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The Barclaycard Commission.
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I was commissioned to make a piece of work for display in the restaurant of Barclaycards Head Office in Brackmills in Northampton. The work measures 10ft x 4ft.
Again alluding to my passion for collecting, I felt the piece should represent the workforce of Barclaycard – some people had spent a large part of their lives with the same company.
I decided to produce a mosaic of items collected from employees, which I preserved in resin-manufacturing square moulds and working many hours in a fume filled studio to complete the task. The content and nature of the finished piece was entirely dependent on the items provided by employees – indeed the creation of the whole work was dependent on their interest and willingness to participate. I visited the site on several occasions, meeting staff to talk to them about the project and to collect items. To me this activity was just as important as the end result – in a way producing a work of art is a rather selfish occupation – the artist defines and makes something they like and want. Here I determined the parameters but was as keen to capture the spirit of the people and place as to impose my own artistic mark.
The response was fantastic! I received many, varied items. Some were typical office items to be found on any desk – pencil sharpeners, pins and elastic bands. There was a whole range coins; interestingly many are now obsolete with the coming of the Euro – making the arkwork a ‘time capsule' already. I was also startled to receive some precious things. A lady gave me a four leaf clover she had kept in a book for 40 years. Another gave me an Egyptian coin which was given to her father when he was in hospital at the end of the Second World War. A young member of staff died during the course of the project and his photograph was given to me by his colleagues which was very moving. A news report in a local paper about an employees roof being struck by lightening was included, as well as cartoons and poems.
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When I had finally produced and polished all the squares I attached them onto four specially commissioned light boxes which were placed in box frames and mounted on the wall in the Restaurant. The clear squares of the blocks and light boxes referring to the open glass aspect of the building.
If you would like a smaller (or larger) version of this piece please contact me to explore some ideas.