Quercus Edition is a 3m tall pair of sculptures, created in 2021. Quercus is a pair of sculptures, 6m tall and was created in 2008 – 2021.
Quercus Edition is a version of Quercus, which was created following a residency at the Hillier Gardens, who have a world famed collection of oaks and is a centre for oak specialists. I was curious to identify what characterises an oak, and learned that, put simply, it is the lobed leaf and the acorn cup. The sculpture represents the proportions of the profile of lobed leaves, which are in golden section proportion, the sections rotate through the golden angle. As well as the size difference, the edition is made with more sustainable methods, developed over the last decade. The system employs a stainless steel structure, a stainless steel mesh and a durable render containing marble dust. The glass skin is very different to the way I was working in 2008 and reflects my development.
During lockdown I had an opportunity to remove and replace the original glass surface of Quercus, choosing to create a huge glass painting in response to an ancient yew forest, which I then wrapped around the sculpture, in a method resembling tailoring. Quercus Edition is different both in the way that it is made and in its glass skin, which references the sand from which it is made, and the soil from which trees grow, which is suffering from numerous practices of which we are now aware. Sand is visible between the tiles and is used as a grout. The overall appearance of Quercus Edition is more sympathetic to the natural world which the work celebrates.
Thanks to Dr Sam Rose and the Mapperton Estate for this wonderful location, photographed with this 400 year old, stag headed oak located on the estate. Thanks to David Bird for the film and photography.
