This work is a combination of the columns found outside our cultural institutions, The National Gallery, Tate Britain & Somerset House.

But you'll find this authoritarian architecture outside Buckingham palace too - and Stonehenge if you squint hard enough.

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It's something visually authoritarian out of a beautiful but everyday material. After all, our museums are made of more 2x4 timber than they are of anything else!

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I hope the work will question what our institutions are worth & the uniforms they wear.

 

By placing a builders material front and centre, this sculpture is a reminder of the work that everybody does to create our institutions.

 

Classical architecture can be used as a stamp of hierarchy, it's a symbol for 'important knowledge' like the cross is for Christianity or the golden 'M' is for Mcdonalds.

This artwork aims to call this into question - making the column seem more like a façade. A reminder that art is for the people, for everybody.

 

History of columns:

Carlton House, was demolished in 1820, but its impressive columns were saved for use in the new National Gallery building.

This Regency era is remembered for architects like Sir John Soanes, a time of refinement and culture. But that was the preserve of the wealthy few. For the masses, poverty was rampant as population began to concentrate due to industrial labour migration.