White Cube, Marc Quinn
May-June 2010
As part of our on-going involvement with White Cube Gallery, Claridge Architects was invited to participate on the the proposal for the installation of two sculptures by British artist Marc Quinn, on the grassed areas of Hoxton Square to coincide with an exhibition by the Artist to be held at White Cube between 4th May – 28 th June 2010.
The Artwork consists of two painted bronze sculptures called ‘The Archaeology of Desire’ measuring 232 x 274 x 135 cm. (H x W x D).
Each sculpture will be be placed on one side of the grassed areas of Hoxton Square, on the Southwest section of the Park orientated towards Rufus Street/Hoxton Square junction and on the Northeast Section of the Park orientated towards the western access to the Park. The sculptures will the accompanied by a substructure that is require to be buried so that the sculpture appears to sit directly on the grass.
Marc Quinn’s monumental Archaeology of Desire is based upon a naturalistic Phalaenopsis, a genus of the orchid family, which has been rendered in exquisite detail. The fine, papery petals, each distinguished by unique venation, defy the properties of the bronze medium in which they are cast to appear almost weightless and ethereal. Every element of the sculpture aspires to the perfection of reality, the accurate rendition of natural beauty. The present work belongs to a series of sculptures and paintings through which Quinn has explored the concept of ideal beauty achieved, especially, through genetic modification. These include his seminal work Garden an installation of flowers in full bloom preserved in silicone. Familiar though exotic, this flower has been rendered uncanny by its enlargement into sculpted form. On an immense scale, the delicate petals take on an imposing presence, resembling the wings of the Phalaena moth from which the flower takes its name.”
