While most of us see grass as, well, just grass, British artists Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey view it as their canvas. These creative minds have cracked the code to turn grass into a living photo album, manipulating its growth to print detailed images by harnessing the power of photosynthesis.
Their quirky method involves an artistic alchemy: seeding germinated seeds onto a large canvas covered in water paste, then plunging their studio into darkness, allowing only projected light through a negative photograph to hit the canvas. Weeks later, the once-blank canvas blossoms into a vibrant, grass-covered image, with different light intensities dictating shades of green and yellow, mimicking a black and white photo in living hues of grass.
For a decade, these artists have tinkered with chlorophyll in grass blades, coaxing out various shades and intricacies. “Strong light creates greener patches, while less light yields a paler hue. No light means yellow growth,” explains Dan Harvey.
Just like vintage photos, these living grass artworks can endure if watered and kept in low light. But like the memories in old photographs, they, too, slowly fade, losing their verdant glory over time.
We first introduced this awe-inspiring grass artistry in 2012, showcasing how nature becomes a living canvas for these innovative artists.
Curious about grassy masterpieces? Click to uncover the wonders of photosynthesis turned into a green-hued artistry
Artists Manipulate the Way Grass Grows to Create Living Photos
