John Atkin

The form of the artwork is based on cogs associated with Mill-winding apparatus as well as navigational forms, such as sextants. These references allowed me to create a visual link for the community to the historical prerequisites of the site. The site was also part of the co-joining of two rivers, so notions of navigation seemed appropriate to the overall design of the structure.  Key forms of the artwork were then replicated (in stainless steel) as satellite artworks that functions as informal street furniture. This has proved popular with present and toddler groups utilizing the space as well as office workers taking a break from work.

 

I agreed on a community collaboration strategy with Spellthrone Council that promoted the ideas for the artwork using local media and library, in order to inform the community about the concept of ideas for the artwork.

 

The brief entailed collaborating with the Landscape Architect team of Spellthrone Council to deliver a landmark sculpture, which included seating provision for the historic Meeting of the Two Rivers Staines, Middlesex. The location of the sculpture was up until then an informal car park and created unsightly clutter for what was a historic part of Staines. The unusual triangle-shaped area was landscaped to complement the historic building fronting onto the space.

 

The landmark building was the original Staines Railway Station. The sculpture and seating was to occupy a once derelict space that has specific slight lines for pedestrian and vehicular traffic where once a Mill occupy the site