A NEW collection of sculptures is to be unveiled at The Hive with a special talk from the artists.
International artists Heather and Ivan Morison were ‘in residence’ at The Hive and University of Worcester throughout 2017, as part of a project commissioned by West Midlands based contemporary arts organisation Meadow Arts.
They spent time engaging with students, staff and users, learning about the spaces in The Hive, and have now created a collection of worm-like sculptures, which represent the consumption of knowledge and the wealth of information held in The Hive.
Some of the works are made with scagliola – an ancient Italian technique of creating imitation marble – layered in between the books.
The pair said: “The sculptures will seem to have somehow absorbed The Hive as if they have been gobbling, and soaking up the vast knowledge held in the library.
“An antithesis to the clean and quiet aesthetic of the architecture, the pieces will ooze life and evoke feelings of excess, beauty and desire for facts and information.”
The sculptures will be unveiled on Thursday, February 1 from 5pm to 7pm with a talk by the artists at The Hive and an opportunity to discuss the new work with them and the curators from Meadow Arts.
The Hive was the first joint university and public library in Europe, and opened in July 2012 as a partnership between the University of Worcester and Worcestershire County Council.
The artists have used this fascinating intersection between academia and civic life to develop their work, meeting with the people who use and work at The Hive, and examining what Worcester residents and students like to read.
The University’s Fine Art students have been participating in the process of creating the artwork, gaining a unique experience and insight into how an artist works, including special one-to-one sessions with the artists, where students have discussed their own work and ideas.
