Soft Sculpture for Brougham Hall is a text-based inflatable sculpture. It consists of heat-sealed black plastic sheeting. The constantly-deflating sculpture becomes legible when participants employ the pumps to "breathe life" into the artwork. The word "great" can express enthusiasm or sarcasm depending on its spoken tone, analogized here with states of deflation/inflation. "Great" also connotes a characteristic that art — especially outdoor public sculpture — is expected to convey.

 

The sculpture was sited in the courtyard of Brougham Hall, a fortified hall in the north of England. The text appears in gothic, or "Old English" script, which originated from the use of reed pens and was adopted by Gutenberg in the 16th century. Soft Sculpture for Brougham Hall was exhibited in FRED 2007, an art invasion across Cumbria (UK).

 

The artist would like to thank Fold Gallery (the organization behind FRED), FRED site coordinator Richard Webster, Brougham Hall and Brougham Hall's Mr Christopher Terry for their assistance and hospitality. Brougham Hall is undergoing a private reconstruction endeavor; contributions are appreciated.

Images

• Soft Sculpture for Brougham Hall, 2007, heat-sealed polyethylene, pumps, inner tubes, PVC, hose clamps, 9 x 5 x 2 feet. Photo courtesy of Tony West Photography for FRED.
• Participants inflating the sculpture.
• Detail from accompanying brochure/poster, 2007, photograph of Untitled, 2007, hand-cut polyethylene, 10 x 16 inches.
• photograph of Untitled, 2007, hand-cut polyethylene, 10 x 16 inches.