The work was created by Pollard for her solo exhibition Ingrid Pollard: Three Drops of Blood at THG (6 August - 29 October 2022). The exhibition, which was commissioned by Talking on Corners, brought Pollard to Devon for the first time and included photography, print, mixed media, text and found objects. Three Drops of Blood, consists of six unique bark boxes, six framed images and seven prints. 

It marked the culmination of two years of research by Pollard that saw her travel across the county, unearthing the folk histories of botanical gardens and ferns. Part of her research also involved exploring the representation of botanicals in local lace making, including the renowned Honiton lace. Said to have been brought to the South West in the 1500s by Flemish refugees, the design of this historically important lace often features scrollwork, flowers, plants and leaves.

Ingrid Pollard MBE (b.1953) is a renowned British multi-media artist, photographer and researcher. Pollard won the Freelands Award in 2020, an annual £100,000 prize enabling an organisation outside of London to present a solo exhibition, including new work, by a mid-career woman artist. She was nominated for the Turner Prize in 2022 for the resulting exhibition Carbon Slowly Turning at MK Gallery.

The Box will display Three Drops of Blood at some point during the 2024/25 financial year – more details to follow.