Woodland Arch- Commission for CECAS at Myross House

At the later end of 2024, I won a commission for a Sculpture for CECAS to raise awareness as to the importance of Native woodland restoration in Ireland for the National Parks and Wildlife.

I wanted to create a piece that was representative of the layered system found within a healthy woodland, but also a structure of a practical nature that would both meld aesthetically and in some way support the surrounding biodiversity.

The work is inspired by but does not seek to copy elements within the natural environment, or be what it is not, but through my own perspective is an attempt to connect with and to support a biodiverse and healthy landscape.

It seeks to show that we have the capacity to work with and enhance healthy natural environments, as in Permaculture design.

The Woodland archway- The archway depicts two trees twisting up and meeting in the middle to create a portal like structure. It is made up of forms and shapes that are commonly found in the natural environment- Branching, spirals, fractals and wave like curves.

I see a healthy woodland as a very magical place, full of mystery and life, each element connected to many others.

It is the perfect example of something being more than the sum of its parts- A healthy old woodland is more like a giant organism than a collection of independent living things. They are rather living in a symbiotic relationship- A relationship in which each organism benefits the other. Mutually dependent organisms such as Mycelium and trees.

As soon as you enter a healthy old woodland you become a part of it with tiny sensory mycelium sending messages off to various parts of the woodland.

With each step you take messages are sent to the different layers in the canopy, where woodland communities thrive and become aware of another presence. It is a kind of non human 'consciousness'.

The sculpture is meant to display what we might see, given the right knowledge, a magical or fantastical element and be seen as a celebratory portal to another realm.