Hilary Kneale has a background in education, fine art installation and somatic practice. She is an Oxford-based independent artist. Her key areas of interest are body-based responses relating to natural site and object through presence and performance. She has worked in a rich mix of cross-art form collaborations both within natural and man-made environments and other specifically constructed installations. Her creative attention is currently focused on aspects of the natural landscape and in particular close study of the element of water. She currently works with this focus, in collaboration with photographer Christian Kipp. Over the last two years they have worked in wild places that have very specific relationships to water. The resulting work is emerging in layers of practice, conversations, images and text, which are slowly emerging into the world. The study of Native American earth based shamanic teachings, support this work and enhance her ability to respond intuitively within the environment. Hilary Kneale has recently published her second book, Silent Vessel, a book as artwork incorporating writings, poetry and photographic images recording a ten year project that culminated in a ten hour durational performance in the company of the ocean and a multitude of hand-built vessels.
Credits: Photograph by Christian Kipp