INSPIRATION
If we take time out to consider the world surrounding us, the remarkable diversity of matter that makes up the environment can be grouped into solids, liquids and gases. Breaking it down even further into a microcosmic world, life begins from a spherical nature. If we were to combine these characteristics, but not give priority to any one of these substances, the natural phenomena of bubbles would be the perfect example.

CONCEPT
This in-between state of existence would be defined within the proposed sculpture for the Jerwood Sculpture Park, Witley Court, Great Whitley Court, Worcester, and would capture the evanescent beauty of bubbles, freezing an ephemeral moment within sustainable sculptural materials. The surrounding environment of the park, with its varying landscape, lake and atmospheric conditions, would provide the perfect meeting place.

The overall form of the sculpture will be of a spherical nature, the sphere having less surface area than volume, and is the most suitable for restraining internal forces (hence the bubble). The internal forces of the outer form will be constructed by varying small bubbles made from a complex symmetrical network of struts that approximate as close as possible to a large bubble. This sculptural interpretation of natural random symmetry explores the complexity of polyhedral cells, which then work together to create ‘dimensional magic’, squeezing a large surface area into a limited volume.

The cells/bubbles are constructed of an assortment of squares, cubes, triangles, tetrahedrons, pentagons and hexagons - their edges gently curved where they abut. The result is a hermetically sealed world of abstraction; one which touches on the grey area of what we know about natural phenomena and a magnifying glass to what we don’t.

MATERIALS
The films defining bubbles are only micrometres thick, however these configurations would be scaled up in aluminium or forms of steel. The following material options are widely used in architectural structures, having proved their strength and sustainability to weather the elements.

DIMENSIONS
Approximate height and width > 170cm (full-scale)