For Ben Edge, Britain's folk renaissance is not just a nostalgic nod to a bygone era, but a vital lifeline in these turbulent times. Ten years ago, while watching a druid ceremony at Tower Hill during the spring equinox, he felt an awakening – "London will one day be reclaimed by nature" – a sense of possibility that has driven his artistic journey ever since.
Edge's latest exhibition, 'Children of Albion', is a sweeping visual survey of the people and events that have shaped Britain. The painting is a riotous mix of refugees in boats, Stonehenge, Viking raids, and the miners' strike, alongside morris dancers and the slave trade – all bound together by the ancient word "Albion", which represents pre-Roman Britain.
But this is no nostalgic exercise; Edge sees Albion as a living, breathing entity that can be awakened to its full potential. "The idea is that this happens by truly accepting who we are as a nation and finding a way to move forward," he explains, inspired by the Romantic poet and artist William Blake's vision of humanity.
For Edge, reconnecting with ancient customs offers a radical strategy to address the crises of our age – particularly the climate emergency. "When I was really clinically depressed, I had no connection to nature," he says. The lockdowns brought a fundamental shift in people's mindsets about Britain and the climate crisis, and for Edge, it was a chance for people to rediscover their immediate landscapes and feel a sense of pride.
Edge's own art is a testament to this idea – his operation is independent in spirit, with no reliance on galleries or traditional art world institutions. "There isn't a gallery that's going to come along and save you – you need to build your own art world," he says. This DIY ethos is reflected in the plastic flowers of 'Where Must We Go in Search of Our Better Selves', but they are also a nod to the people who make folk traditions happen, improvising costumes and props with whatever comes to hand.
As we gaze upon Edge's latest work, it becomes clear that his art is not just a reflection of our troubled times, but a call to action – to reconnect with nature, to rediscover our sense of community, and to find a way forward that values the universal concerns that have shaped human experience for centuries.
Edge's latest exhibition, 'Children of Albion', is a sweeping visual survey of the people and events that have shaped Britain. The painting is a riotous mix of refugees in boats, Stonehenge, Viking raids, and the miners' strike, alongside morris dancers and the slave trade – all bound together by the ancient word "Albion", which represents pre-Roman Britain.
But this is no nostalgic exercise; Edge sees Albion as a living, breathing entity that can be awakened to its full potential. "The idea is that this happens by truly accepting who we are as a nation and finding a way to move forward," he explains, inspired by the Romantic poet and artist William Blake's vision of humanity.
For Edge, reconnecting with ancient customs offers a radical strategy to address the crises of our age – particularly the climate emergency. "When I was really clinically depressed, I had no connection to nature," he says. The lockdowns brought a fundamental shift in people's mindsets about Britain and the climate crisis, and for Edge, it was a chance for people to rediscover their immediate landscapes and feel a sense of pride.
Edge's own art is a testament to this idea – his operation is independent in spirit, with no reliance on galleries or traditional art world institutions. "There isn't a gallery that's going to come along and save you – you need to build your own art world," he says. This DIY ethos is reflected in the plastic flowers of 'Where Must We Go in Search of Our Better Selves', but they are also a nod to the people who make folk traditions happen, improvising costumes and props with whatever comes to hand.
As we gaze upon Edge's latest work, it becomes clear that his art is not just a reflection of our troubled times, but a call to action – to reconnect with nature, to rediscover our sense of community, and to find a way forward that values the universal concerns that have shaped human experience for centuries.
I get why he'd wanna tap into all that ancient history stuff, it feels like his art is trying to tell us we're more than just our modern worries, you know? He's right, we can't just sit around waiting for someone else to save us - we gotta take matters into our own hands. The DIY ethos of his whole operation is really inspiring 
and I love how he uses folk traditions to make a point about connection to nature and community. Plus, the way he talks about the lockdowns being a wake-up call for people... yeah, that feels kinda true for me too 
I'm telling you, this Ben Edge guy is onto something... His whole 'reclaiming Britain by nature' vibe is more than just a pretty face. What if the lockdowns weren't just a coincidence? Maybe it was a wake-up call for people to take a step back and reconnect with their surroundings. And think about it, all these ancient customs and traditions he's highlighting... they're not just some nostalgic nod to the past, they're like a blueprint for our future.
I think he might be onto something here. This 'Albion' business? It's like he's talking about a collective unconscious, a shared sense of purpose that can help us navigate these crazy times. We need more of this kind of thinking, you know?
. I mean, who needs all that fancy art world stuff when you can just tap into nature and our collective human history? His DIY ethos is totally resonating with me - let's ditch the galleries and build our own community, for goodness sake! 
And can we PLEASE learn from our past and find ways to live in harmony with the planet? It's like he's saying we don't have to be defined by our current state of chaos... Albion is alive and waiting to be reclaimed 
. This whole folk renaissance vibe, it's not just about nostalgia, it's about gettin' in touch with our roots, you know? Like, he's takin' all these old customs and events and mashin' 'em together into somethin' new, but still real. And that word "Albion" is key - it's like, we need to wake up and remember who we are as a nation, you feel me?
. It's like, the art world should be about the people makin' it happen, not just some rich folks in suits. And his DIY ethos is so inspiring - like, we should all be makin' our own way, rather than relyin' on others to save us.
. It's time to stop messin' around and get back to basics, you know?
it's like he's tapped into this deep connection with Britain's history and our relationship with nature. I mean, who wouldn't want to be awakened by the idea that London will one day be reclaimed by nature? 
It's like Edge is saying we can't just sit around and wait for things to get better, we need to take action and find a way forward that values our connection to the land and each other. And I love how his art is all about DIY ethos, like we don't need fancy galleries or institutions to make something beautiful, we just need our own creativity and passion. It's really inspiring to see someone using their art as a call to action for change.
. Can't wait to check out more of his work! 
! Ben Edge's art is like a breath of fresh air, reminding us that we don't have to be stuck in the past, but can use it as a way forward 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to reconnect with nature and find pride in their own landscapes? It's all about accepting ourselves and our place in the world, you know? 
And let's give it up for Edge's DIY ethos - he's showing us that we don't need galleries or institutions to make art happen 
. It's not just about the art, it's about the movement 
.