'Fountain'  Project, Alexandra Park Manchester 2010/12

This shows a reworking of the old fountain in Alexandra Park, Manchester. A self-led response to the social sculpture project undertaken by artist Lotte Karlsen which I assisted through writing and open workshops taking place in the park. This was based around the idea of a self contained 'forest garden' that celebrated suffragette, Emmeline Pankhurst and the surroundings. A project which touches on feminine ideal wrapped in nature and the role of the park. This exercise however, was unguided by any attempt towards making sculptural ideas into a reality; consisting of a number of designs within the time limit of just one day, whilst also considering other people's thoughts as I ventured around the park. These were later reworked on computer. 














                              visual records of ideas and studies

Mapping the park's forgotten or mythical history, taken from residents or local sources.

Plants were selected for their relevance and survival abilities to the local area. But also on how they could effect the space differently. These compliment each other in their needs and require little or no maintenance, enjoying water run off from the fountain. This aims to counter pose the moral dictations of the original. This is a sculptural object, but it is also a living and breathing one beneath within its shell.

This particular Idea developed further in which it is eroded chemically to produce a 'rust' surface. Within the sculpture the shiny metal is retained. One inspiration derives from the corroding industrial elements found on walks around Manchester that denote its historical relationship with its environment...

click on image to enlarge

...the garden is revolting... The outside embodies this 'true' man made nature, which is already in a state of deterioration on the surface. 
 dualities: 
i.e shelter/exposure, nourishment/rust, accessible/enclosed, 
neglected/self sufficient, disorder/contained, large scale/ornamental

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