Jason Ingram and Philippa Lawrence, window vinyl and Duraclear on Perspex panels. Photo Jason Ingram.
Synopsis
Holland House Hotels wanted to work with a photographer to produce artwork for the windows of their hotel refit in Bristol. The artwork was to promote the presence of the building and had to work from both inside and outside of the foyer area. Artists Jason Ingram and Philippa Lawrence worked on the glass face, and Claudia Pilsl produced a series of photographs for the interior spaces.
"We wanted to make a space that felt as if you were within nature. The imagery of the trees works with the existing reflections and changes in intensity throughout the day."Jason Ingram and Philippa Lawrence
Description
Jason Ingram and Philippa Lawrence brought the outside into the interior space of the hotel, creating a seamless screen between the two. Photographic images were shot of tree canopies to work with the avenue of trees just outside the building. The imagery of trees works with the existing reflections and changes intensity throughout the day.
Claudia Pilsl spent time in the hotel rooms as the refurbishment was taking place. Claudia was also interested in the trees and the ways that they interacted with the building. Claudia saw the manmade structure of the building as a frame to look out of. She ended up on the roof, where she could see that the trees, planted at the same time as the building’s original construction had just outgrown it, and were peeping over the top.
Artist Statement
Whilst researching and walking around the perimeter of the Hotel, we considered St Mary Redcliffe to be a significant part of the built landscape. We walked inside to take a further look and immediately it became evident how we would approach the window piece. The rich, luminous stained glass casting pools of coloured light onto the church flagstones created a sense of ‘place’.
The idea was to link and bring aspects of the outside into the interior and to create a seamless screen between the two. Photographic images were shot of tree canopies to work with the avenue of trees just outside the building. It was important that this would work across the wide expanse of glass just right of the entrance. We wanted to make a space that felt as if you were within nature. The imagery of the trees works with the existing reflections and changes in intensity throughout the day.
It is hoped that the pieces create a sense of calm, projecting subtle areas of colour, making an inviting and restful space. A work to be enjoyed equally by the hotel guests and those that pass by. (Jason Ingram and Philippa Lawrence)
Philippa Lawrence
Philippa Lawrence was born in Louth, Lincolnshire in 1968. She studied at Norwich School of Art (1987-1990) and the Royal College of Art, London (1991-1993). She is responsible for the textile art pathway at Cardiff Metropolitan University (UWIC) and Associate Lecturer at Plymouth University.
Lawrence has exhibited widely both in the UK and internationally, including Japan, Canada, Iceland, Czech Republic and Australia. Her work has been selected for numerous group exhibitions, as an invited artist for the recent RWA Celebrating Paper (2010) and Through the Lens exhibition (2008), Sense in Place, Reykjavik, Iceland (2006); her touring solo exhibition Philippa Lawrence, Oriel Davies, Tunbridge Wells and Glynn Vivian Art Gallery (2006): Reiko Aoyagi and Philippa Lawrence, House of Arts, Ceské Budejovice, Czech Republic (2005); Anima, B312, Montreal, Canada (2005); Mostyn Open 2004, Oriel Mostyn, Llandudno (2004); Explorations, National Botanic Gardens of Wales (2003); Like Gold Dust, Angel Row Gallery, Nottingham (2002); Glow, Artspace, Sydney, Australia (2001); and ArtTextiles, Bury St Edmunds Art Gallery (1996).
Recent activities include her first public art commission for the War Memorial Hospital, Llandrindod Wells (2008). Work at the Castle Museum, Nottingham (2009) and for Meadow Art Gallery’s ‘Tell it to the Trees’ at Croft Castle, Herefordshire (2009-10).
