"Growth & decay", charcoal sculpture, 2016

"Growth & decay", charcoal sculpture, a time based work first created in 2011 at the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Constructed with charred timber and charcoal, the sculpture is an abstract form expressing the natural process of growth and decay in nature. Growth flowing upwards towards the sun before eventually returning to the soil. The work is intended to decay over time. It is a home to many species of flora and fauna, including nesting wagtails. The images in this section show how the piece has changed over the last five years, the main body of the work, above ground, is left to natural process and weathering. The only artistic intervention is seasonal gardening around the sculpture. And in the Winter, the adding of fresh charred wood to make sense of the sculptures base.