Rediscover Haddo is an exciting collaboration between photographer, Susan Orr and flash fiction writer, Rae Cowie. A project strongly rooted in a sense of place, Susan and Rae have been engaging with Haddo employees and Friends of Haddo volunteers, capturing the essence of Haddo Country Park through forgotten stories, precious memories, secret places, as well as the exceptional flora and fauna that make this Aberdeenshire park’s surroundings so special.
By focusing on Haddo’s hidden corners, they explored the park’s unique past, unearthing fascinating stories such as the artists’ bracket mushroom, which was used as a canvas for art and writing; various folk tales, including mention of the Doolies, meadows where fairy folk are said to live; and Kemble’s seat, named after renowned West End regency actor, John Philip Kemble.
Susan says “Haddo has been a memorable place to visit since my childhood. The opportunity to embark on a new photography project with another like-minded creative, has been a perfect symbiosis. The images I have created for this project stem from the importance I place on biophilia; where humans have an innate desire to connect with nature. This project aims to spark curiosity with nature, history and the conservation within this beautiful country park.”
Rae says “Receiving funding from CAN enabled me to discover more about a place that holds special memories for my family. It allowed me to collaborate with a photographer for the first time; to experiment with ekphratic fiction; but, most importantly, to respond to Haddo’s fascinating history and interesting flora. These new works include two pieces written in Doric, regency stories (another first), a fairy story, ghostly tales, romance, and more.”
Next steps hope to include a publication of their work in a photo-book, with the pair’s future vision being to share what they learned, encouraging others to use Haddo Country House and Park as inspiration for their own creative practice, as well as helping build a wider local creative network.