Mind

Created in 2022 for a new development in Mickleover, Derbyshire, Mind was inspired by the history of The Pastures County Asylum, which once stood nearby. Rather than focusing solely on the darker history associated with asylums, I was drawn to the unusual relationship that developed between the patients and the surrounding community. From its earliest days, patients were encouraged to take part in village life, attending local churches, taking part in sport and making use of the surrounding landscape.

This idea of connection became central to the sculpture. A woven bronze sphere sits within a fluid stainless-steel form, suggesting something held, protected and contained, while at the same time allowing light and space to pass through it. The work also reflects on a much more recent experience of the landscape: during the Covid lockdowns, green spaces became important places of refuge, reflection and wellbeing for many people. Mind brings these two histories together — the relationship between people, place and wellbeing, and the ways in which the landscape around us can provide a sense of freedom, connection and calm.

The sculpture combines hand-woven processes with cast bronze and stainless steel. The bronze sphere is mounted on a tall steel plinth, topped with polished black granite that catches and reflects the natural light through the woven form. The materials and construction allow the sculpture to shift between solidity and openness, echoing the complex ideas of containment, connection and release that inspired the work.