Turritopsis Dohrnii: a curious ocean species whose jelly has the remarkable quality of transforming from the polyps stage into a medusa form and back again at its own choosing. Thus making it ‘immortal’. A grouping of these profound creatures is known as a ‘bloom’. It is safe to assume that a creative collective taking its name and inspiration from such an intriguingly odd and awe-inspiring obscurity are likely to offer an appealingly alternative artistic vision.

“These principles have morphed into an analogy for creativity, when faced with adversity we can rejuvenate our artistic growth,” confirms Jaime Slater, one half of Immortal Bloom, alongside Rachel Rea. The pair joined together after graduating from university and utilised their cross disciplinary skills picked up from differing yet complimenting experiences. Both were raised in creative environments that encouraged self-expression and, following courses in art and costume design respectively, they now develop their talents with a shared ethos.

“We are both interested in our natural world and the man-made impact on it. We want to challenge consumerist ideology and our attitudes on sustainability,” explains Rachel. This admirable aim is at the core of their work together, using man-made waste to produce natural pieces. “We want to create art that has aesthetic pleasure and a dark underlying message,” Rachel continues. “This is practised using disposable and environmental contexts and creating beautiful installation.”

Their most apt design and the springboard for Immortal Bloom was a jellyfish sculpture they made for Outlaws Yacht Club.” Joe Gill gave us a spherical key-keg provided by Northern Monk Brewery to see what we could do with it. The material screamed jellyfish!” describes Rachel of their unusual, eye-catching and innovative creation.

This led to further collaborations with the likes of Studio 24 to expand on “how we could transform waste into treasure.” “We really enjoy working with others and sharing ideas,” says Jaime. “We work separately in the same space then get our heads together and start to blend.”

The involvement of others to explore their themes extends further to also include their audience; “Contemporary art is a platform for an artist to display mediums of contexts in a free practical style,” Rachel explains. “It’s an unspoken conversation between the viewer and the artist.” This philosophy to art and to life is summed up by Jaime with a favourite Michael Lipsey quote; “There are three universes: my universe, your universe and the universe.”

As Immortal Bloom’s art balances experimentation and attraction with environmental improvement, Rachel believes it can play an important role beyond the aesthetic. “I think if individually art and its message have merit and quality then it strengthens the drive,” she says. “Art is a flow that is constantly challenged by political and cultural perspectives.”

All of which requires a commitment from all of us to not only appreciate the art but to interpret it for ourselves; “Meaning is the key, and we can only learn from the past. It is important to inform future generations; to learn from mistakes and collectively change,” says Jaime, and Rachel agrees. “We all have our senses, we all learn, we just need to be open to the message. This is imperative to all understanding.” With wise words, exciting creations and immortal ambitions, this unique duo are ready to bloom.