Client: Regents Park Open Air TheatreArtist: Lee SimmonsLocation: London, UK
Date: 2019-05-23 00:00:00 +0000 UTCTags: art, steel
David Conville OBE Memorial Sculpture
Regents Park Open Air Theatre commissioned Lee Simmons to design a sculpture celebrating the life of David Conville OBE.
The form of the sculpture derives from an abstract interpretation of the auditorium that aims to capture an essence of what it feels like to play in the open, exposed to the elements, and captures the sense of envelopment that is the centre of the stage. The form further echoes the evolving dialogue between actor, audience and nature with its changing of height from left to right and front to back.
The natural environment and transition from daylight to dusk has informed the abstract and organic nature of the sculpture, even in how the sculpture itself responds to the breeze with a slight, pleasing movement.
The blade of grass-like fins of the sculpture are made from weathering steel that will, in time, weather down to organic tones of browns and oranges, akin to the sculpture’s natural surroundings.
Nestled within the foliage surrounding of our picnic lawn, this sculpture honours David Conville’s contribution, dedication and love of this place (an inscription is on the reverse of one of the lower fins).