The  ‘Echoes of Eels’ exhibition has a migratory element just as the eels themselves. The idea germinated in lockdown and has two distinct parts to it. One is a poetical retelling of the danish fairytale Prince Lindworm, a tale of twins, wild, self and rewilding the psyche with an eel twist. The other is a children’s tale ‘Eirian the Eel’. The works entwine and inform each other. Prince Lindworm artwork consists of 12 wedding dress creations made from sea rope/ ghostnet scavenged on beaches. Eirian the Eel’s artworks are quilted panels using recycled materials, telling the story of the journey that an eel takes from the Sargasso Sea hitching a ride on the gulf stream all the way to Wales’ rivers and then up to 20 years later back to the Sargasso sea via the Mid Atlantic Ridge. The European Eel has lost 95% of population in the last 30/40 years worldwide. This is a fish that has a huge history entwined with our species, but in our generation has virtually become extinct in our memories. Generational amnesia is a real environmental threat to species, biodiversity and the planet’s wellbeing. Climate change, unnatural barriers, green power, plastics, pollution even cannabis taken at festivals affect eels.

The European Eel, Anguilla anguilla, is subject to the biggest wildlife crime world wide with a pricetag in excess of the cannabis trade.

Echoes of Eels attempts to re-ignite on an individual/ community level the reminder or ‘echo’ of our close relationship with this mystical and enigmatic species and it’s importance in the scheme of things, using visual storytelling.