Fallow | Pause | Bloom

Vanessa Claridge

This playful installation transforms a vintage beach windbreak into a vibrant meditation on cycles of rest and renewal. The familiar striped fabric—a quintessential piece of Kent's seaside culture—creates an unexpected moment of joy amid the historical Gunpowder Works. Hand-printed with "Fallow | Pause | Bloom," it invites reflection on how both landscapes and creativity require periods of dormancy before flourishing again.
The bright orange and red stripes stand in deliberate contrast to the industrial remnants, creating a temporary sanctuary that speaks to the site's transformation. Like the landscape itself, the windbreak suggests that periods of fallowness and pause are essential precursors to new growth and possibilities.
*What sound would it make if you gently poked each different coloured stripe?
*How do the words "Fallow | Pause | Bloom" relate to your own life right now?
*Can you find something in nature nearby that shows similar bright colours?
Materials: Vintage beach windbreak with orange and red stripes, screen-printed text