Mycelium shelter after heavy rain; installation at Liverpool Parish Church; Credit Rob Battersby, courtesy of the artist.
EXHIBITION
Lucy Tomlins
Camp, Do We Go Around the Houses, or Do Houses Go Around Us?
Metropolis, Earl St, Coventry CV1 5RU
Saturday 23 April – Sunday 26 June 2022 12 noon – 11 pm
Private View Wednesday 25 May 6 pm – 8 pm (press view 4 pm – 6 pm)
Pangaea Sculptors’ Centre is delighted to present ‘Camp, Do We Go Around the Houses, or Do Houses Go Around Us?’, a new installation by artist Lucy Tomlins.
By definition, a camp is a place of temporary residence – built of huts, tents, or other structural forms, typically used by soldiers, refugees, or travellers. For this installation, Tomlins will present a series of shelters made from mycelium, Portland stone and cob, offering an innovative way to bring together concerns around sustainable development through the material explorations and platform of contemporary sculpture.
Three models of shelter-like forms, each expertly crafted from natural materials are presented as if tests, works-in-progress, or models for future evolution. And so, they are. The artwork is in a state of flux. Formed from natural materials with varying properties and states of permanence, throughout the duration of their exhibition these materials will continue to transform, the results as yet unknown.
Developed for initial installation at Liverpool Parish Church, Liverpool, before touring to Metropolis, Coventry, ‘Camp, Do We Go Around the Houses, or Do Houses Go Around Us?’ is a technically ambitious new body of work that seeks to investigate how artists might use materials to underscore the key questions of sustainability in contemporary society. The title of this project derives from Mario Merz’s, ‘Igloo, Do We Go Around Houses, or Do Houses Go Around Us?’, (1977, reconstructed 1985), with this reference acting as a departure point from which to build significant dialogues around sculpture and its material agency. Drawing on a range of production techniques, this installation combines sculptural and architectural elements, bringing together traditional practices such as stone-carving, with cutting edge techniques including mycelium cultivation and digital modelling, to examine sculpture as a space of possibility and transformation.
Pangaea Sculptors’ Centre and the artist recognise and highlight that it isn’t just one artist that makes these projects happen. This work is produced by artist Lucy Tomlins in collaboration with a skilled team of practitioners and specialists, including Mike Gregory & Luke Twigger (PSC), Oksana Bondar & Candyce Dryburgh (Biohm), and stonemason Adeline Wartner.
Past Exhibition: Liverpool Parish Church (Our Lady and St. Nicholas), Old Churchyard, Chapel Street, Liverpool, L2 8TZ
Friday 18 February – Monday 18 April 2022
Opening Friday 18 February 11 am – 12 pm
MATERIALS
Over the past few years, the notion of sustainable art has grown considerably, making a number of efforts to increase the awareness of key issues regarding the social and environmental impact. Contemporary Sculpture is quickly becoming a part of these efforts, with ‘Camp, Do We Go Around the Houses, or Do Houses Go Around Us?’ returns us to a focus on material and why it matters, creating three new technically ambitious works that are made from:
MYCELIUM
One of the newest and most promising sustainable materials is mycelium, the thread-like underground root network of fungi, in combination with organic waste matter; an 100% organic material and a biodegradable alternative to plastic. It’s application for a structure of the size and complexity of this artwork, in a single unit, is untested and provides an opportunity for increased material understanding as well as the creation of a unique artwork.
This is only possible through the collaboration with project partner, Biohm, leading pioneers in the research of mycelium and other bio-based materials, and soon to go into production of the world’s first accredited mycelium insulation panel.
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Image Credits: Alicia Canter for Biohm
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MATERIALS
Over the past few years, the notion of sustainable art has grown considerably, making a number of efforts to increase the awareness of key issues regarding the social and environmental impact. Contemporary Sculpture is quickly becoming a part of these efforts, with ‘Camp, Do We Go Around the Houses, or Do Houses Go Around Us?’ returning us to a focus on material and why it matters, creating three new technically ambitious sculptures that are made from:
MYCELIUM
Mycelium is the vegetative root structure of fungus and it offers near limitless opportunities for the development of biobased materials for application in numerous industries. Mycelium biobased materials are renewable, regenerative, can be made to be either strong or flexible and are naturally hydrophobic. Its unique properties present tremendous potential for the material’s application. Experimental projects and material developments can be found across architecture, fashion and design and this material is now finding its way into the world of sculpture.
It’s application for a structure of the size and complexity of this artwork, in a single unit, is untested and provides an opportunity for increased material understanding as well as the creation of a unique artwork. This is only possible through the collaboration with project partner, Biohm, leading pioneers in the research, development and biomanufacturing of mycelium and other bio-based materials, and soon to release the world’s first accredited mycelium insulation panel.
Credits: Alicia Canter for Biohm
PORTLAND STONE
The noblest and most enduring of building materials, the second shelter will be traditionally hand carved out of reclaimed blocks of Portland stone, assembled and built to last. Digital scanning and sculpting technologies will be an essential part of the making process, bringing together the traditional with technical innovation – made possible through partnership with Building Crafts College.
Portland Quarry; Portland Stone; London, UK – October 16, 2011: “Occupy London Stock Exchange” protest outside St Paul’s Cathedral, London, England, UK, credit Godrick.
RAW CLAY & STRAW
Clay and straw are plentiful natural resources used for a range of different applications across all seven continents from thatched roofs, to the delicate craftsmanship of the Kumartuli of Kolkata, to cob buildings.
With potential to last and also enabling impermanence, these natural materials lend themselves to both durational and temporary installation, depending on the approach to their application. Clay left unfired will break down with water and can be recycled or returned to the earth. It is with this in mind that the third shelter will be constructed. In March 2020, Tomlins undertook a research trip to Kolkata, India, to learn more about this technique, supported by Coventry City of Culture and the British Council. You can read more about this research trip via the Kumartuli Research Journal.
BIOHM
Biohm is a multi-award-winning research and development led, bio-manufacturing company. They allow nature to lead innovation, to revolutionise construction and create a healthier, more sustainable, built-environment.
BUILDING CRAFTS COLLEGE
Founded by the Worshipful Company of Carpenters in 1893, the Building Crafts College has a long tradition of delivering high quality education training in building crafts and building conservation.
