So I had great images of the sculpture when it stood on the Mickleover campus of the University of Derby, but where was it now? A lecturer at the Keddleston Road campus informed me that he had completed an exhibition in the past about the artist, not only that but they still have the sculpture at the University.
I set off to find the sculpture, which took me to the latest campus for the University on Markeaton Street which is the Art, Design and Technology facility. The new building features an internal ‘Street’ a long wide corridor that runs the entire length of the building and is bathed in natural light from the vast expanses of windows. On the second floor the balcony continues this open feel and overlooks the 'Street’, at the end of the second floor balcony where the end of the building is one large span of glass sits the sculpture.
The sculpture stands at just under 6 foot and is in excellent condition, on the images of the sculpture when it stood at the Mickleover campus it appears that a student had lightly carved a smiley face onto the surface of one of the forms, this has since been removed I’m pleased to say. The positioning of the sculpture in front of this large window retains the feel of the sculpture being outdoors as the view outside shows lots of mature trees.
I can’t tell you how excited I felt to be face to face with the sculpture, it really stirred something in me, I’m so happy to be able place a sculpture of my own where once sat a sculpture, and second I would like to incorporate an element from the old sculpture into the new sculpture as a small homage to the sculptor.