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Pollen Hotspot
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| Sculpture in Context 2006 at The National Botanic Gardens. | National
Craft Gallery, Castle Yard, Kilkenny 2009 (Photo by Dylan Vaughan The Irish Times 10 August 2009.) |
Sculpture in the Gardens 2008 |
| €4,500 (17 pieces), 150cm L x 150cm D x 35cm H. |
It is
a secret world
visible only under a
microscope. To
imagine their size or quantity is unfathomable.
They range in size from 20 to 250 nanometers –
and a nanometer is
a millionth of a millimetre! They
are
produced in such quantities that it defies imagination.
A single birch tree might produce as much as
5 billion pollen grains in just one season.
In addition, pollens are composed of such an incredibly
resilient substance
that they are resistant to rotting and can survive tens of thousands of
years. In
appearance they might easily
be mistaken for something from
another planet. Indeed
pollen grains, which are usually spherical in form, have surfaces that
often
consist of very elaborate, three-dimensional patterns.
It is hard to imagine that all
around us these tiny
little sculptures exist in vast numbers, simply waiting to be carried
by the
wind or an insect to their final destination.
Of course the majority of pollen grains produced by a
plant will never
reach that destination.
And so for this years exhibition I have focused my attention on the pollen grains that do not find their way home but instead might land on the pond in our own Botanic Gardens and rest there for a while. The pieces which were constructed in my own paper clay, seem to float on the surface of the water but of course they are supported underneath with metal spikes embedded into the pond floor.
In this piece I hope to give the viewer a glimpse into a world not normally seen by the naked eye and in so doing make this secret world known only to a few - accessible to all.
About
Sculpture in Context:
Sculpture in Context was established in 1985 by a group of sculptors.
Their aim was to work on behalf of fellow sculptors to
provide
space
for exhibiting work of sculptors in venues outside of their normal
gallery context. It has been successful in that aim over the
years and
has staged highly acclaimed shows each year at venues such as Fernhill
Gardens, the Conrad Hotel, Kilmainham Gaol, the Irish Management
Institute, Dublin Castle, Farmleigh House and The National Botanic
Gardens. Each year a different panel of selectors is invited
to
adjudicate this open submission exhibition, leading to an exciting mix
of mediums and styles.
Over 100 sculptures by Irelands leading artists will be displayed throughout the Gardens, ponds, Great Palm House and Curvilinear Range, with the smaller works exhibited in the gallery above the Visitors Centre. The magnificent grounds of the National Botanic Gardens have been home to this unique exhibition for the past four years allowing both nature and art to fuse together to create a memorable visual experience. Pollen Hotpot was installed in the gardens pond in Sept/Oct 2006.
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| Finished Installation shots: | ||
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