A Commissions North announces PLEXUS at NETPark, County Durham
Date uploaded: January 10, 2010
Wormholes and gateways are terms usually associated with space exploration and time travel, but in this instance they are the creative muse for a new innovative piece of dynamic public art by artist Stephen Newby situated on the North East Technology Park (NETPark) in Sedgefield, County Durham.
Plexus stands 5.5m tall and weighs 250 kilos – the sculpture’s illusional sci-fi aesthetics are created by 31 reflective coloured panels that have been fashioned by using a unique ‘patented’ procedure of inflating and stretching stainless steel.
The visually striking futuristic artwork acts as a symbolic gateway to one of the UK’s fastest growing science parks. Newby looked to craft a piece that represents the progressive relationship between science, engineering and technology.
Plexus was commissioned by Commissions North, part of Arts Council England, North East; and the funding for the sculpture was provided through County Durham Economic Partnership from a strategic arts fund, created using One North East investment. Other funders included Durham County Council and the former Sedgefield Borough Council.
Gateshead-based Newby describes the technical process behind Plexus, he said: “Plexus is a gateway structure with a network of blown stainless steel sections, intending to symbolise the multiple perspectives and frameworks of knowledge that combine to form the NETPark community.”
The original concept saw the fusion of various themes including wormholes, grid networks, and the symbolisation of movement through leaping across space and time. Stephen adds: “The process of inflating stainless steel creates slightly different results each time, so that each section of Plexus (like NETPark) has its own autonomy while functioning together as part of a unique structure or network.
“The sections of Plexus taper and distend into the tail of the structure, to suggest the way NETPark is stretching and pushing at the boundaries of science, engineering and technology.”
Matthew Jarratt of Commissions North talks of what initially attracted him to the design and nature of Plexus. He said: “We were excited about the technology which Stephen uses to 'inflate' the stainless steel - NETPark is all about innovation so we were looking for a sculpture which reflected this and presented a forward looking image.”
To find out more about Public Art in the North East please visit
www.commissionsnorth.org
Media Contact: (for all interview, photography and media visit enquiries)
Garry Smith – Strictly Press
Tel: 0191 2625340 Mobile: 0789 9910823
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