Steel, Glass Reinforced Concrete, Gilding (schlag metal), lacquer

2.9m H x 1.4m W x 1.6m L

800kgs

2024

Urban Monolith

Temple first draws the eye with a lustrous blaze of gold leaf. It has the creased and folded form of a simple paper bag, yet at architectural scale.

Touching the apparently yielding surface reveals mass and solidity - beneath the gold, this object speaks in the quintessential material language of the city; concrete.

The humble handheld carrier of a million shopping trips, with their hopes and dreams and practicalities, seen blowing around our city streets, here fixed in place like a monument.

Gold has strong associations of currency and trade - the City's day job - but the gilded surface also suggests a temple, shrine or votive object (it's untarnished nature seen in religious thought as a reference to the enduring perfection of the divine).

In this object questions of belief and value weave with consumer culture and the human need to find meaning and to belong.

Sculpture in The City, 2024

Stella Ioannou, Artistic Director of Sculpture in the City and Founding Director of Lacuna, says: "Sculpture in the City is a celebration of contemporary art amidst the striking architecture of the City of London, enhancing the City’s cultural offer and aiming to bring art to diverse audiences across various communities. This year’s inspiring selection of artists brings interactive, contemplative, and playful sculptures that engage and captivate the onlooker, whilst our extensive activation programme highlights our commitment to engaging local residents, city workers and London visitors alike”.