Terracotta

1999

H48 x W20 cm

This sculpture was commissioned for ‘Artpark’ and exhibition in the grounds of Mackintosh’s ‘ House for an Art Lover’ in Bellahouston Park, South Glasgow. This site further prompted a floral subject for the work. Plants and flowers were a frequent source of inspiration for Mackintosh and the House is situated close by one of the cities municipal horticultural centres and walled gardens.

Since 1997 I have made drawings and sculpture using the flower bud as a focus for contemplation and sign of regeneration, and as an incredible resource of sculptural forms. I have also been exploring the expressive possibilities of patterned or textual (eg. words or hieroglyphs) information applied or incised into the surfaces of large sculptural forms. I became aware of this device on visits to India on both Islamic and Hindu classical sculpture.