Curious formations is the result of a 6 month residency exploring Biddulph Grange Gardens encompassing a live lava performance and two new temporary sculptures.
The two large geometric forms (shown above) sit outside the Geological Gallery which was designed by James Batemen in the 1860’s. The gallery encapsulates his intertwined believe system, as embedded in the walls is a rock strata and a collection of fossils which are chronologically displayed correctly but labelled within the severn days of creation.
The site responsive sculptures are an ode to feldspar, a crystal that is found in many rocks in the Gallery. From the ‘Is it Magma’ research; where I explored how to use molten rock as a sculptural material. I became aware of how to define a rock. Rock identification involves cutting a thin section and observing the sample under a petrographic microscope. Petrographic microscopes contain cross polarising filters which facilitate the user to see different coloured crystal formations. These formations are compared against an identification chart and thus the rock can be defined and catalogued. The windows of the sculptures hosts polarised filters causing light to diffract, creating a similar effect to viewing rock samples under a microscope. This effect can only be experienced if a viewer is standing inside and looking across to the other crystal.
Curious Formations looks to disseminate our current understanding of evolution and habitat. And celebrate forgotten interpretations of trying to understand the unknown.
Curious Formations Exhibition Catalogue 
