- Venue
- University College For The Creative Arts
- Location
I have just finished my MA 3D design at the University College for the Creative Arts where I produced a six foot high sculpture which covers an area of15ft x 15ft (205²ft) and is produced from concrete. A large part of this sculpture represents and celebrates my love for concrete. My interest for concrete and its use in architecture probably started seven years ago when I started at the KIAD where I initially studied an NDD in 3D Design. As soon as I started at the college I became interested in the building (a 1960s Brutalist concrete constructed building). Although this interest stayed in the background whilst studying for my NDD. Towards the end of this course I started to look at areas that I would like to study for my BA and I began to realise that I was interested in ceramics after completing a project in ceramics during my NDD. I think I picked ceramics and working with clay because in a way I loved the non-commitment of the material as before this material is fired it can be thrown back into the reclaiming bin and building can start again without any wastage. I also liked the way the material could take on impressions and markings.
Whilst on my BA studying ceramics I became more interested in the KIAD building at Rochester and the use of concrete and felt I wanted to incorporate this material into my work. When on my second year we had the chance of doing a public arts project I decided I would produce a piece of work for the college building. At this stage because of my interest in the college building I became more aware and more interested in concrete architecture from the 60s and 70s and this was beginning to influence my work. When the opportunity arose to produce a public arts project I decided I would choose to work with concrete and produce a small sculpture for one of the stairwells in the college building. I suppose what I wanted to achieve was to demonstrate how interesting this material could be and show its fluidity even though it is a solid material. I also wanted to celebrate the architecture of the college building which probably today is more forgotten and less appreciated. When this sculpture was finished I felt that I had gone some way in achieving this, but also felt I wanted to work more with this material as just like clay it could almost take on any impression of any other object and shape required providing the mould could be built.
For my final degree I was able to produce a mixture of both ceramic and concrete pieces of artwork. At this stage I felt there was so much more I wanted to research into concrete architecture and sculptors who use concrete and I wanted to experiment much more with this material. After discussing with other tutors in the college who had worked with me in the past I decided to take on an MA in 3D Design. I chose this course at KIAD as I felt it would allow me to have the freedom, but the right tutoring to expand my research into using concrete in a sculptural and creative way. I took my MA over two years and that time allowed me to really research some of the areas which I was unable to do on my degree and allowed me to become more aware of particular architects, architecture and sculptors which my work could be related to. This time also helped me to define a particular style within my work and also a particular construction method to which I found achievable for me to work with in concrete.
Also during my MA I found how my interest in photography was growing as it allowed me to demonstrate to other people my interest in concrete architecture and also in a way allowed them to see how I see concrete and show this material in both a sculptural way and in an architectural context. I think this interest grew because during the two years on my MA, near to where I live, construction of the new Kingsferry Bridge began which has now been named the Sheppey Crossing. This bridge is mainly built from concrete and what is particularly interesting is that one of the requirements of construction of this bridge was that it should not impose on its landscape.
Concrete is often thought of as being a very imposing material and so this was a very interesting project for me to follow. I set myself the task of keeping a photographic record from start to finish. I think it was during this project that I realised I would like to produce a sculpture which was influenced by this structure and which could also fit into the landscape where this bridge was being constructed. However, one of the problems I have had with concrete is that the scale has often been very limited due to weight and the ability to move the sculptures from where they are made to where they are being exhibited. As I wanted to build a large scale sculpture this was one of the first problems I wanted to solve and probably I wanted to prove that just because concrete is very heavy and could perhaps be considered difficult to work with I wanted to prove that this did not necessarily have to be the case. This is where I drew influence from the idea of using concrete in a kit-form construction just as so many tower blocks had been constructed during the 60s and 70s and as Compton Garages still use today. My other problem was that to produce a large scale sculpture in kit-form I would need to produce many moulds. I then decided to think about a way where I could produce a large sculpture which only needed perhaps four moulds which would adapt to make the many different sizes and shapes required for construction of this sculpture which I have now achieved.
Whilst photographing the bridge during construction there was one particular photograph which stood out as it captured a period of time during construction where the structure of the bridge cast shadows on the concrete pillars. I felt this was something I wanted to capture and recreate in my sculpture. I also liked the way that the new bridge began to frame and fragment its landscape and so when producing my sculpture I also decided that this was an area I wanted my work to cover. After various maquette designs and ideas I produced a design which I felt captured all of these aspects. My final design consisted of 36 separate concrete components which when erected appear as 18 pieces within the sculpture. At the sculpture's highest point is a triangle which represents the three communities which the new Swale Crossing will link. From this central triangle step down a series of pillars which stretch out in three different directions in line with the triangle. On top of these pillars are "Y" shapes which reduce in size. The purpose of the "Y" and pillars is to cast shadows across themselves and the structure and to almost act as decoration on the raw concrete. I also particularly like to use light and shadow to decorate the raw finished concrete as this means the sculpture will change and take on varying appearances throughout the year depending on the position of the sun.
Although this sculpture has been produced for my MA it is a reflection of my influences over the last seven years and demonstrates my interest and fascination in the use of concrete in architecture and sculpture. I hope this sculpture allows its audience to look at concrete in a new and exciting way with all its potential. Appropriately this sculpture is on display at the University College for the Creative Arts Rochester (formally KIAD) on one of the balconies of the building where my influence and interest in concrete first began.
