Covid-19 memorial proposal
This design embraces sculpture and architecture together in an external public art work.
The theme is about touch which has become so important to everyone, especially with the social distancing which have been imposed by the COVID-19 epidemic. People have missed the positive human touch; a warm embrace, a reassuring hand on the shoulder or one arm linked through another.
This sculptural composition is a temporary/travelling installation which can be located in both external urban squares and parks and green spaces in towns and cities all over the UK.
The curved composition of a human arm embrace captures the entire design allowing it to be self-contained and easily positioned in an external space.
The composition can be replicated as the sculptures will be cast in reusable moulds and the architectural elements are easily constructed on each site.
Most importantly, this composition captures today's world and its emphasis is on the positivities of life through figurative sculpture, vibrant colours and integrated architectural design in our external environments.
The design centers on three pairs of sculptural figures which are 1.5 times larger than life-size. The figures are sculpted in a visual language which embraces all races and communities. They are of varying ages; a mother and baby, an adult about to embrace a child, an adult comforting another adult. The pairs are linked together by their use of physical touch. The groups are placed at key focal points of the overall design.
The sculptures are made from hand painted glass fibre panels fixed to steel armature. Each group of figures are painted in different blends and mixes of the rainbow colours with a satin waterproof finish.
Two groups are positioned sitting on a long, curved timber bench, large enough to for eight visitors to also sit alongside them. The group independent of the bench invites visitors to enter and be part of that circle of embrace.
It is the intention that visitors interact, empathise and touch the sculptures, and allow them to reflect on the loss of their loved ones with positive happy memories.
Urban locations.
Green park locations.
The sculpture is captured with a curved screen of a solid plinth wall housed between two columns with tall angled frosted glass blades which defines the perimeter of the composition. It also reflects the curved shape of the bench, allowing ambulant and disabled access around the elements.
The glass blades have the rainbow colours representing today’s support of diversity. The angled position of the glass blades allows the sunlight to reflect through, casting coloured light onto and around the art form as well as allowing views of the location behind.
The plinth wall will embody art work and text from the local communities, which can be updated with different community themes. The two columns will also include engravings and titles of the specific location.
The artwork will be linked to the interaction of sound and illumination displays accessed via a QR code. The audio and visual displays will be providing the stories, news and events of the local communities.
The ground surface also contains the curved form with the use of two different coloured gravel; one for the perimeter and one defining the inner circle.