David Rickard: Synthesis (Heavy Chain)
Documentation of UCL Public Art sculpture commission for the Pears Building, Royal Free Hospital, London
I was delighted to collaborate once again with artist David Rickard to create an interpretation film for the general public to understand the process behind his new UCL Public Art commission for the Pears Building, the home of the UCL Institute of Immunity and Transplantation at the Royal Free Hospital. The Pears Building is one of the largest patient-focused immunology centres in Europe, with the building design aiming to bring together scientists, clinicians, patients and the general public to help demystify 'research' and speed up the journey of laboratory insight to patient treatment.
David Rickard won the commission to create the public art piece for the building, and built on his collaborative practice to engage with scientists and others in the building to understand their work and create a piece.
The final sculpture, Synthesis (Heavy Chain) draws on ideas of the immune system through the process of protein synthesis, which is guided by small chains of Messenger RNA. Formed from stainless-steel links and suspended from the atrium within the building entrance, the piece speaks to the interconnected elements of the immune system working together as an interdependent system, much like the buildings occupants.
The film captures David in his London studio, the process of the creation of each of the hundreds of stainless-steel links by Other Fabrications, time in the research labs and the installation of the piece. We also worked with sound designer Simon Keep, who bought the piece together beautifully with original composistions.