Laura Donkers
Laura Donkers is a British/Irish multi-media artist-curator and independent researcher. Her work mediates complex ideas associated with contemporary, historical and cultural readings of place through a variety of methods, strategies and processes. She employs field-based research, interdisciplinary collaboration and socially engaged activism to explore the interconnections between nature and culture.
She holds a PhD in Contemporary Art Practice (DJCAD Dundee, 2020), which explored collaborative artistic co-creative methods to strategically promote eco-social regeneration for small island communities. It was awarded a SGSAH/AHRC scholarship and included additional awards to undertake comparative research visits to Elam School of Art, University of Auckland. She developed her research into the creative agency LimenLab, which delivers eco-art projects that document and promote exchange between people and nature at a time of biodiversity loss and climate change.). She also holds an MA in Art and Social Practice (Distinction) (UHI Shetland, 2023), MFA in Art, Society, Publics (DJCAD Dundee, 2014) and BFA Hons in Fine Art (First Class) (UHI Outer Hebrides, 2011).
She exhibits her work widely in Scotland, Europe and internationally. She lives and works on the Isle of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, UK.
Statement
Attuning bodily, sensory engagement with ecology, my multi-faceted practice engages with human/nonhuman thresholds. Ideas develop intuitively over time spent in quiet observation and contemplation of the correspondences lying between environment, matter, culture and making. Finished works take the form of drawings, film poems, digital recordings and public interventions.
At a time of human caused climate and nature crises, I use my practice to explore how social innovations, colonialism and capitalism impact human and nonhuman communities. As a socially engaged ecological artist, I believe that art can significantly affect how we perceive the living environment, and that perceptions can be changed through social interactions and creative encounters 'in nature'.
Contact Information
websites:
www.lauradonkers.art |
www.limenlab.org
Emails: [email protected] |
[email protected]
Education and Qualifications
2020 Practice-led PhD in Contemporary Art Practices, DJCAD, University of Dundee. AHRC Creative Economies: Deploying collaborative artistic co-creative methods to strategically promote eco-social regeneration for small island communities. Supervisors: Professor Mary Modeen, Dr Iain Biggs RWA, Professor Ioan Fazey.
2023 Master of Art and Social Practice (Distinction), University of Highlands and Islands, Shetland
2014 Master of Fine Arts Art, Society, Publics, DJCAD University of Dundee
2011 BA Fine Art Honours (First Class), University of Highlands and Islands, Moray School of Art, Scotland
Grants | Awards | Prizes
2024 Creative Scotland Open Fund – Individual Grant
2023 Lopdell Trust Arts Award, Aotearoa NZ – Project Grant
2022
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Foundation North, Aotearoa NZ – Project Grant
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DEAR2050 | Oceans on the Rise, Climanosco, Switzerland – Prize Winner
2019 Scottish Graduate School of Arts & Humanities – Artist in Residence Award
2018
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Scottish Graduate School of Arts & Humanities – Visiting Doctoral Research Award
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Scottish Graduate School of Arts & Humanities – Cohort Development Award
2017 Scottish Graduate School of Arts & Humanities – DTP AHRC Studentship (Creative Economies)
2015
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Creative Scotland/CNES – Visual Arts & Crafts Award
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a-n/Connected Communities Bursary – Writer and Travel Grant
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The Pebble Trust (SCO44593) – Publication Grant
2012 Creative Scotland/CNES – Visual Art & Crafts Award
2011
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Creative Scotland – Investment Programme 4 Talent Development Award
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Stanley Smith (UK) Horticultural Trust – Research Grant
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Creative Scotland/Cultural Enterprise Office – Starter for 6 Training Gran
Residencies
2025
- La Wayaka, Desert Residency, Atacama Desert, Chile
2024
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On Duration, AADK Spain with Dr. Reagan Truax, Centro Negra, Blanca, Murcia, Spain
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Purau-Stoddart Cottage, Port Levy, South Island, Aotearoa NZ
2023 The Church Rawene, Hokianga, Northland, Aotearoa NZ
2019 Kaipatiki Project Environment Centre, North Shore, Auckland, Aotearoa NZ
2017 Kunstverein Schwedt, Galarie am Kietz, Schwedt/Oder, Germany
2015 DRAWinternational, Caylus, France
2013 Outlandia, Glen Nevis, Fort William, Scotland
2012 Cuan Uibhist/The Secret Sea, Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Art Centre, North Uist, Outer Hebrides UK
2011 Arteles Creative Centre, Haukijarvi, Finland
Solo Art Exhibitions
2025 Touching Wood, An Lanntair, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides UK
2024 Subsume, Northart, Northcote, Auckland & Stoddart Cottage, Diamond Harbour, Aotearoa NZ
2022 Land Radius|2, Depot Artspace, Auckland & New Zealand Maritime Museum, Auckland, Aotearoa NZ
Curated Projects
2023 The Hokianga Community Drawing Project, a collective drawing to explore impacts of locally experienced extreme weather events. Link
2022 Blue Radius, art exhibition and events programme raising awareness of sea level rise in Tāmaki Makaurau. Link
2019
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Meeting Ground, recording and communicating the embodied knowledge of islanders in the Outer Hebrides on local food growing methods. Link
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Re-Generation, video project presenting Māori-led approaches to inspiring and educating volunteers in regenerative planting practices. Link
2017 Sewing Wildflowers, an intergenerational wildflower planting project for GROW WILD. Link
2014 Tha mi a bruadair / I am dreaming, video project capturing intergenerational education about crofting. Link
2011/12 Machair Art, revitalising island youth’s engagement with crofting through art practices. Link