GEMMA FAIRCLOUGH

I have explored themes of domesticity and isolation within the wider frame of the pandemic, as well as nature, biomimicry, and community within my work. By being at once both ancient and futuristic - human and animal - my sculptures reimagine dwelling places, by being deliberately ambiguous. 

Inspiration for my sculptures came from a wide range of sources, most notably late 20th Century futuristic architecture, natural forms and Gaston Bachelard’s The Poetics of Space (1958). Intrigued by the Architects who strived to reimagine human residences, I researched the work of Frederick Kiesler, Dries Kreijkamp (who was also a sculptor) and Matti Suuronen. Their disregard for the norm ignited something in my mind, and thoughts of creating a small futuristic space, where one could live safely in isolation began to form in my mind. The isolation was important, as I was reflecting on my experience of shielding from the pandemic, and the safe solitude of self-isolation was playing on my mind. Like many, I had reconnected with nature during the pandemic and had become fascinated by animals’ innate ability to construct impressive and structurally sound homes with great care and attention.  I decided to borrow from nature’s remarkable repertoire when developing my project, and the dwelling spaces I was envisioning began to take on biomorphic forms, inspired by birds’ nests like those of the Weaver and Tailor birds. The restrictions of working from home thwarted my plans to build such a large-scale piece, and I had to scale down my works. Inspired by Bachelard’s The Poetics of Space (1958) and architectural models, I realised I could use this to my advantage. The ellipsoidal form of the sculptures is derived from the egg-shaped nest of the weaver bird, and the larger grouped sculptures are reminiscent of the form of social weaver birds’ nests and the interconnecting chambers of a rabbit warren. By prompting the viewer to imagine living somewhere radically different, I hope my sculptures will invite the viewer to think outside of the human experience and reflect on the types of spaces they inhabit. I have created a series of sculptures that, through imaginative projection, invite the viewer to occupy the space of each small-scale dwelling.