Framing the space
My practice spans the fields of figurative sculpture and architecture. I bring both disciplines together in settings which are influenced by theatre design, but which aim to be public artworks for the public to visit and to become a part of; not only to be viewed from a distance.
The public is invited into the artworks, to enter and interact with the component parts, to feel empowered. There is an invitation to ask more: why is it there, does it mean anything, how does it relate to the viewer? This research proposes an alternative public art space, asking how modern-day life might be encapsulated in public sculptures depicting modern people in their current conditions.
My work introduces the key point of providing a wider invitation for the public to engage with public sculptures in urban public spaces. My interpretation of the word ‘public’ refers to people—in this case, communities in a city—and I have chosen London as the possible settings for my work. More explicitly, I think of the term ‘public’ as open, communal and collective. I consider the term, urban public spaces as places which are open and accessible to the public in towns and cities.
My choice of London as an example of a general site stems from my own experience of being London-based and placing my footings agreeably in this city. I draw on my personal experiences of being part of this metropolis of diverse cultures and ethnicities. I define ‘public sculpture’ as sculpture located in open space, in London public spaces, freely accessible to all. Most of these sculptures are permanent artworks but some pieces are temporary, such as public art installations. The intention of duration of a public artwork is questionable when comparing contemporary sculptures to the permeance of historical sculptures.
Using my architectural experience, I apply a methodology of expressing spatial volumetric forms, creating perspectives and vistas; describing these forms of ephemeral architecture as architectural elements. Ephemeral linked with architecture describes lighter types of structures and enclosures in weight and form, which are transient across time and space; suitable forms to place in urban public spaces with our evolving society. My architectural elements create a micro-space: a uniquely contained space within the ‘wrapping’ of a larger public space; creating an atmospheric place of mystery, intrigue and memory.
These architectural elements create a micro-space within the public space, located in our current times, a canvas of expression where local communities can imprint their own identities. The elements are ephemeral, as they relate and evolve, responding to present-day circumstances and needs of these communities.
The ephemeral architectural elements form a component of my compositions, providing light and passages of space which envelope the sculpted figures. These experiences are created through rhythms of light and shadow, awakening the viewer’s perceptions with nature; they are channels to connect with nature through patterns of light and shadow.
In sculpting the human form, I identify and express conditions, movements, features and details, capturing the individual of today. These figures express a contemporary characterisation through gesture and motion, providing an interesting tension of scale with the settings. They are painted in life-like colours, created at sizes larger and smaller, purposely different from human scale. These figures represent our urban public, they are familiar, but the way they are placed in the settings make the viewer question the figures’ ambiguity, their relationship to one another and within the context of each setting.