Arcs
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Arcs | Large Scale Stainless Steel | International Sculpture Symposium, Changchun, China
The sculpture was commissioned through Changchun International Sculpture Symposium for their new International Sculpture Park, Changchun, China
One hundred and two artists from across the world were invited to participate in the second phase of this ambitious project. The original concept design was designed and modeled in my studio in London, and the scaling-up process was completed in Changchun during the seven weeks of the Symposium. My scale model of the sculpture and detailed design drawings facilitated the making of the sculpture and the fabrication team worked assiduously to complete every detail of this five-part sculpture. Relevant regulations and maintenance conditions were met through negotiation with Changchun International Sculpture Symposium Organizers. The materials used are virtually maintenance-free.
The title of the artwork is derived from studies I have made on navigational forms and the numbering on the surfaces of the sculpture is taken from calibrations common to the detail of Sextants, Octants, Mariners, and Astrolabs, together with a variety of other navigational instruments. The forms of the sculpture also relate to the ideas of rhythm, flow, and energy. Each arc flowing into one another, almost like an ebb and flow of water. This notion of continuity coupled with the bright stainless steel creates a separate celebratory effect, which is resonant of innovation and invention.
The lower parts of the sculpture also provide informal seating, which most community interaction with the sculpture, making it a landmark as well as a meeting place for visitors to the space.
The Changchun International Sculpture Symposium provided me with the opportunity to explore how this sculpture would work on a large scale and to share my views on the role of public art within a wider audience, particularly the World Sculpture Conference.