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Tel: 01485 540620 email: editor@townandaround.net Hunstanton Town & Around September 2017 75
Counterpart Exhibition by Dr Richard Gant at

Black Barn, Cockley Cley, near Swaffham

Inspired by landscape and the statuesque
qualities of cliff scapes and English chalk
headlands, coastal maritime themes gradually
became an integral part of my current
portfolio of work. The inclusion of colour and
interests as an amateur geologist influenced
my practice.
I re-explored the Hunstanton Cliffs which
have always been an inspiration since
childhood. Exploring the cliff structure its
colourful strata, textures and beach visitors
has led to a series of recent drawings and
sculptural concepts and models.
The Pier Concept (2016) provides my
sculptural interaction between cliff, strata and
sea. It aims to narrate the events of geological
time and key sea level changes in the North
Sea. The concept takes heed of glaciations and
former land mass changes including the
Dogger Bank. It manifests the Upper
Cretaceous, it considers earth movements,
land uplift and former Hunstanton coastal cliff
lines, symbolised by the suspension and
spatial sequencing of cradled boulders. I aim
to harness the elements in playing an integral
role with the structures, exposing the action
of the sea and wind to form derived associated
forms and sounds, so reminiscent of those
nostalgically linked to the former Hunstanton
Pier. The unaligned random boulder strata of
the sculpture symbolise dynamic Alpine earth
movements and the formation of an almost
lyrical poetic orchestration of stratified
colours. The structure also pays homage to its
natural context, historically linked to recent
offshore discoveries of ancient ritual and
culture at nearby Woodhenge.
Technically the construction would house
each boulder by a cradle-like structure made
of stainless steel tubes, aligned to form five
separate quadrupeds 40’ in height. Each
quadruped leg base would cover an offshore
area of 7m x 7m with a tubing cross over Inspired by the role and engineering of the
height of 6.5 metres at low tide, the level Victorian Hunstanton Pier the concept
height of water at high tide being develops natural and man-made forms into a
approximately 2 metres. Cross over tubes contemporary utilitarian sculpture.
would be welded and locked in place by a The sculpture has the additional ability to
stainless steel ball joint. Each quadruped leg be pedestrianised by a series of connecting About the artist
would be bedded into foundation blocks of toughened glass tube walkways. Each
submerged concrete. Stratified boulders boulder’s hollow cave-like core could As the former Head of Fine Art at Liverpool
would be anchored into each quadruped by accommodate an interconnecting walkway John Moores University until 2009 his
gravity and locked in place by stainless steel that would enable a walk-through of each research activities have been exhibited as far
pins. quadruped. Quadrupeds could be increased to afield as Sweden, Shanghai and Singapore.
The quadruped series would spatially align lengthen the structure. The interiors of each He has also shown in group exhibitions
to a total length of 100 metres, they would boulder unit could present a geological and including Tate Liverpool, Kettles Yard Gallery
project from the offshore beach so as to be social-educational display. Access would be and The Louvre Paris.
partially immersed by the sea at high tide. by a walkway from the clifftop or a direct link His Kings Lynn roots has given him a rich
Each boulder would be made of reconstituted from the beach. The public would be able to visual vocabulary of exploring texture and
chalk, carstone and red chalk cemented in a walk its entire length offering sea, beach and tone from his once familiar fenland landscape.
reinforced matrix of white cement, each coastal vistas both at high and low tides Exhibition P.V Sept 23rd and 24th 11am-
unique boulder would be cast into irregular tendering social engagement and panoramic 1pm. Artist’s open days Sept 19/20/21/26/27
stratified blocks, one on each of the five maritime vistas. by appointment on 07923573711 or
quadrupeds. Each boulder size would be an Dr Richard Gant richardmgant@hotmail.com Exhibition closes
irregular shape approximately 6m x 6m x 6m. 4pm Sept 27th.