Garden step risers finally installed for Townend family, Park Crescent, Brighton UK
In preparation for this commission, I visited, observed and photographed stretches of silver birch trees in England. Silver birch is a very common broad leaved tree in the UK. It is also a pioneer species which means that it is one of the first tree species to colonise an area that may be bare soil or just shrub or grassland. It is also fairly tolerant to pollution and hence is often planted on exposed or industrial sites. It seemed to us to be an ideal species to represent in the composition. I also kept Gerhard Richter's picture of the Hirsch deer close to mind as I painted the design.
Each riser is made from a number of sections of clear perspex which have been individually painted, sanded and then laminated together with clear casting resin. They have been inserted into stainless steel frames, behind which light is projected through a layer of opal white perspex.