Statement

My particular area of research is based on the use of electrical energy as a medium and a source of investigation within the locale. I am particularly interested in our relationship to electrical objects and include architectural buildings within this category.

To explore this position I installed an interventionist light work titled ‘Interruptions’ which lit the interior space of the spire of St Peter’s Church now the University Arts Centre and the architectural lantern of the Harris Museum and Art Gallery, with large light sources that periodically flickered and flashed. The resulting work created two large dysfunctional architectural objects within the urban landscape at night.

I have continued to develop this approach of viewing architectural forms and spaces that are in contemporary use as large electrical objects. Work is produced that references the particular context of the site in relationship to its electrical installation.

Last year ‘Dancer’ was installed a permanent interventionist light work for the exterior of Wakefield Museum, commissioned by Wakefield City Council and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The work referenced the original function of the building as a dance hall by programming a lighting scheme to periodically create dances that were integral to the architecture of the building. Recently I have been undertaking research, funded by a Yorkshire Arts individual award, for a temporary architectural light work titled Towerscan.

I propose to use the whole of H building, a tower block on the Leeds Metropolitan University site, as a single work. I have been scanning/surveying/mapping H building with the aim of creating an understanding of its histories, physicality’s, electrical energies, and social structures. Through which I have gained an insight into the many physical and social relationships that form our understanding of the urban environment. My findings and the proposals for the light work were presented in a solo exhibition at the Leeds Metropolitan University Gallery in July 2001 and I am now working towards realising the work.

All my projects involve elements of collaboration usually with many partners including the clients and funders, architects and engineers, designers and makers. This holistic methodology has facilitated my approach of working between and across recognised art and design disciplines while forming special relationships with creative people; namely John Varley director of M-Jay Electronics with whom I work with to create the programmable micro electronic controllers that are now an essential part of my practice.

Another organisation that I work closely with, on the marketing and publicity of projects as well as design and producing publications is Thompson Design. The Towerscan pop up publication, which records the research and outlines my proposals for the project is another good example of this collaboration.