Bog Finds

2025

Resin, pigment

Dimensions (cm): 5 x 9 x 7

A bog is a mythological creature in Yorkshire folklore, a kind of mischievous hobgoblin. In the title, ‘bog’ could also refer to swamp or marshland. Due to the particular environmental conditions of bogs, organic material is often preserved where it might otherwise have decayed, allowing for precious historical discoveries (leather shoes; food; human or animal waste). In the title, the word ‘finds’ refers to this archeological possibility, and the thirteen figures are presented on a ‘finds table’ as if freshly dug up from the earth. Cast in resin, they also resemble collectible figurines, each wearing a different helmet from the Royal Armouries’ collection, presented as a kind of contemporary archeology.

Photos by Wes Foster