'Material Agency and Meaning' was an online seminar involving artist/researchers Justin Carter and Onya McCausland in conversation with Geographer Dr Danny McNally about recent projects involving material extracted from the landscape. Avoiding the traditional monologic approach to presenting work, Justin and Onya instead tried to build a shared dialogue framed by a small selection of relevant images used as wayfinders. In keeping with the speakers’ practices, the intention was for the conversation to be open and fluid, allowing ideas to emerge through conversation and exchange. This symposium explored various approaches to engaging with materials as active agents within the art making process.

The session was chaired by Dr Frances Robertson and was subsequently re-interpreted by Dr Danny McNally for publication in the online critical review 'The Drouth'.

Material Agency and Meaning was the first part of Practicing Landscape: Landscapes of Energy and Extraction – a series of four public seminars organised by the Reading Landscape Research Group, formed by artist-academics from the GSA.