New Exhibition at The Cornerstone Arts Centre Asks: Are We Blind to the Plants That Keep Us Alive?

More Than Plants: The Hidden Worlds Beneath Our Feet
On view for three months in The Study, The Cornerstone Arts Centre, Didcot

Step into More Than Plants, an evocative new exhibition by visual communicator and creative consultant Naomi Farmer, exploring the often-overlooked, life-sustaining world of plants. On display for three months in The Study at The Cornerstone Arts Centre, this thought-provoking exhibition unpacks the concept of plant blindness, challenging visitors to truly see the greenery that surrounds them and consider its essential role in life on Earth.

At a time when climate anxiety, biodiversity loss, and food security dominate headlines, Farmer turns a spotlight on something quieter but no less urgent: our disconnection from the plant world. “We rely on plants for everything: food, air, medicine, clothing, shelter, yet we rarely give them a second thought,” she explains. “This exhibition is about asking why that is, and what it might mean for our future.”

Rooted in both science and story, More Than Plants draws from ecological research, vision theory, and Farmer’s own professional experience working with the agriculture and horticulture industries. Using design, illustration, and written narrative, the work invites visitors to reframe the way they see plants—not just as decorative or functional, but as vital participants in complex ecosystems.

From the optical reasons we overlook plants (like their lack of movement or uniform colour), to deeper psychological biases hardwired into our species, the exhibition offers a layered, accessible exploration of why we’ve sidelined plant life in education, conservation, and even imagination. But it doesn’t stop at diagnosis, it’s a call to action, too.

“Whether it’s a tree cut down for housing or an illegal plant trade destroying ecosystems, the consequences are real,” says Farmer. “We need to start seeing plants not as background, but as the stage on which all life depends.”

The exhibition also encourages interaction. Visitors are invited to consider how their own visual perception affects what they notice, appreciate, or ignore. “Art history has taught us that not everyone sees in the same way,” Farmer adds. “So how do we design for seeing differently? How do we provoke attention where there is usually blindness?”

Naomi Farmer is known for her work across the fresh produce and horticulture sectors, with clients ranging from the US Department of Agriculture to Marks & Spencer. Through her agency, Brandbloom, she helps brands communicate complex ideas with clarity and impact. This exhibition marks a more personal, purpose-driven creative exploration for Farmer, grounded in over 16 years of global design and consultancy work.

More Than Plants is not just an exhibition, it’s an invitation to look again.

Exhibition Details
Title: More Than Plants: The Hidden Worlds Beneath Our Feet
Artist: Naomi Farmer
Location: The Study, The Cornerstone Arts Centre, Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE
Dates: 19  May – 31 August 2025
Entry: Free

For press enquiries, interviews, or hi-res images, contact:
Naomi Farmer | hello@brandbloom.co.uk | www.brandbloom.co.uk

About the Artist:
Naomi Farmer is a designer, speaker, and creative consultant with deep expertise in visual storytelling and a long-standing commitment to sustainability and purpose-led design. She brings together a rare mix of commercial strategy and creative insight, with a career spanning government, agriculture, food production, education, and nonprofits.