Visit ‘Lost Energy’ Virtual Exhibition King's Bruton - ‘Lost Energy’ Virtual Exhibition G H Cole - Artist’s Website
Lost Energy In collaboration with the community of King's Bruton and its talented cohort of young creatives, I am delighted to launch the (now virtual) Summer Exhibition, 'Lost Energy', in association with Hauser & Wirth. The exhibition is an invitation to experience the results of this wholly co-operative process kinetic sculptures, a wave-inspired installation of combined energy forms to immerse the senses, and different aspects of the narrative with moving image to discover. Throughout, the aim has been to forge links to culture and the natural world, open a new dialogue and connect communities inside, outside, near and far.
INSPIRATION The journey began through a continued fascination with the transference of energy from rainfall to river water, and the movement of rivers; taking a step back in time exploring local rivers as a starting point and discovering historic and contemporary water mills and foundries. These journeys on foot have given bountiful opportunity to connect with nature and the community. The fragment of a mill stone discovered from the Old Iron Works, Mells represents a historic industry once powered by water. This iron works site, once produced agricultural edge-tools from as early as the 1700s, that were exported all over the world. Also, I discovered the Mendip Power Group, a community engaged in the production of renewable energy. The transformation of water mills into hydroelectric turbines was a great source of inspiration and gave an opportunity to connect and engage with site specific locations, such a Telliford Mill, near Bath.
PROCESS Kinetic sculpture: Bending and forming wire to create a continuous free-flowing rotating wire sculpture, to evoke the sense of motion. Whilst taking inspiration from a highly expressive individual known for his deep exploration into colour theory, playful perspective and use of line. "A drawing is simply a line going for a walk" - Paul Klee Two-part mould casting: Behind behind the scenes in the studio, I have been casting multiples of the hydro-turbine inspired energy form. After months of experimentation and exploring methods of bending and forming wire to create metal armature sculpture. The intention was to capture a sense of dynamism using an exterior layer of plaster, working into the surface with expressive mark making. The final task was to bring all these elements together to create a large-scale immersive wave installation, the first steps for these energy forms before completing the cycle and returning them back to nature.
COLLABORATION Energy Light Trails In collaboration with the community of King's Bruton and its cohort of young creatives, I am delighted to share our energetic experiments with the medium of photography. Over the spring term, we had an opportunity to create our own light trails in response to the theme of 'Energy'. Activating our initial designs with an element of performance and movement to capture our energy forms by drawing with light.
COLLABORATION Plaster Energy Forms These dynamic plaster forms reveal the traces of hand and fingerprints made through the process sculpting and working the plaster using the palms of your hands. Relief Energy Forms Exploration beyond the classroom has given pupils the opportunity to connect with environmental issues first-hand through a range of educational experiences, including a series of visits to Carymoor Environmental Trust. Through these experiences, pupils have collaborated on a wide range of environmental topics and sustainable practices such as regenerating wildlife, sustainable building design, and renewable energy generation. This invaluable experience was the catalyst for kick starting the process for these relief panels, individually created over a series of workshops to form a grid like structure in relation to the theme of ‘Energy’.
FUTURE Throughout, the aim has been to forge links to culture and the natural world, open a new dialogue and connect communities inside, outside, near and far. I have always been fascinated by the transference of energy from rainfall to river water, and the movement and flow of rivers in particular have been the inspiration for a lot of my practice. Cycles in nature and the resulting energy is a key motif running through my work. I will continue to reconnect with the natural environment by returning the various forms of energy to their source for each to slowly decay, thus completing the cycle and transfer of energy. #back to nature
HAUSER & WIRTH SOMERSET King's Bruton’s artist-in-residence, George Cole, and a talented cohort of young creatives, present their online summer exhibition, ‘Lost Energy’, in association with Hauser & Wirth Somerset. The exhibition is an active collaboration between nature and community, reconnecting to energy forms and exploring kinetic sculptures in a wholly immersive experience. The works pictured draw inspiration from the stepping stones across the River Brue running through our ancient Packhorse Bridge in Bruton, inviting a dialogue between local history, energy cycles and sustainability. To discover more about the exhibition and process behind the work please follow the handles below via Instagram. @george.h.cole @kingsbruton @hauserwirthsomerset
‘Lost Energy’, in association with Hauser & Wirth Somerset.
I am so impressed with the work George Cole, our Artist in Residence (supported by Hauser & Wirth) has done with King's pupils in this exhibition. Exploration beyond the classroom has given the pupils the opportunity to connect with environmental issues first-hand through a range of educational experiences. These include a series of visits to Carymoor Environmental Trust: a pioneering land restoration and habitat creation across 100 acres of capped landfill just outside Castle Cary in Somerset. Through these experiences, George and the pupils have collaborated on a wide range of environmental topics and sustainable practices such as: regenerating wildlife; sustainable building design; and renewable energy generation. Whilst exploring the landfill and waste management of the site, the impact of waste generated from the 1970s to the present day was evident. This invaluable experience not only provides an alternative voice with which to discuss environmental issues but also elucidates the processes and cycles that connect us all. Ian Wilmshurst - Headmaster King's Bruton
Since his arrival at King's Bruton, George Cole has been inspirational. He has welcomed the creative ideas of the pupils and allowed them to contribute to the concepts surrounding his work. His vigour, inquisitiveness and passion for our environment and art has been infectious. All of the pupils that have been involved in his creative journey have taken great pride in their role and gained a real understanding of how art can represent environmental issues ranging from the decomposition of waste to the transfer of kinetic energy. It has been George’s enthusiasm and unwavering belief in his goal that has been so impressive. With this exhibition we are seeing the culmination of months of planning, educating and creating and we are delighted for him that he now has the opportunity to share his passion and inspirational artwork with the wider audience. The work on display leaves you with the notion that art and energy are symbiotic, intertwined, perpetually changing and in motion, never lost, just transferred and reconfigured in subtle and harmonious ways. Seamus Harkness - Head of Art King's Bruton
Lost Energy ‘Lost Energy’ is an active collaboration with nature and community through the exploration into themes of energy and what it looks like.
CREATIVITY IN LOCKDOWN Working on the ‘Lost Energy’ summer exhibition during this unprecedented time of lockdown has been a conflicting yet meditative experience. Working on this project under current restrictions has given me a sense of escapism whilst in isolation with my partner and my son. Leonard, my 3 year old son and studio assistant has been actively helping me assemble artworks, taking an interest in the casting process and moving energy forms into position whilst filming. Our daily exercise ritual includes filming in nature on a series of walks along the River Brue. During lockdown, I have found myself (like all of us) adapting my practice. Whilst conducting remote learning with pupils at King's, working online has been challenging and quite tricky as the premise of ‘Lost Energy’ is based is on active, first-hand collaboration with nature and community. However, the key theme of ‘Lost Energy’ has been to connect with nature and community, and this feeling resonates with me as I walk though the exhibition in isolation. As I try to envisage a response to the artworks from alternative viewpoints and perspectives, this wholly collaborative process forged over many months, remains behind closed doors. The closure of cultural venues across the globe during 2020 and beyond, has become a process reflective of the current difficulties faced by many schools, museums and galleries. By its very nature as an exhibition, it seeks an answer to the challenge of reopening, of supporting people’s emotional wellbeing, social connections and mental health.
This importance of experiencing art first-hand and opening a dialogue as a collective through a shared experience, is an essential part of culture and something we have taken for granted in the past. This makes taking a walk to a gallery and seeing art in situ even more vital than before as we prepare to get back out in the world. As we move out, we must remember and hold onto art ‘In Real Life’ rather than rely on viewing artworks through virtual reality. Whilst we remain at a distance from the people and places we love. This collaborative project stands as a testament to the importance of working together and creativity moving forward, as it is this connection which reminds us why human beings need art. We look forward to opening the doors once again to the Art Department and celebrating the creative endeavours of our young creatives. Viva la art - be more creative!
Lost Energy ‘Lost Energy’ is an active collaboration with nature and community through the exploration into themes of energy and what it looks like.