Alluvia by Jason deCaires Taylor Creates a Stir
A new sculpture by Jason deCaires Taylor, made from recycled glass was installed on the bed of the river Stour near the Westgate bridge in Canterbury, Kent.
Made from recycled glass, LED’s and marine stainless steel, the work incorporated environmental monitoring sensors and is lit from within at night. The work draws reference to Sir John Everett Millais’s celebrated painting Ophelia (1851-1852). A character from Shakespeare’s Hamlet which some have suggested could have been inspired by a 16th century drowning which took place on the river Stour.
This new work replaces a previous installation which was damaged during river dredging several years ago. An inspection of the previous installation found that they have been badly – and mysteriously – broken.
British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, celebrated across the globe for his extraordinary creations, including the world’s first underwater sculpture park in Grenada, promised to restore the Canterbury feature, but started work on a replacement after discovering how severely damaged the statues were.
The title Alluvia refers to the alluvial deposits of sand left behind by the rise and fall of the river’s water levels. The figure’s posture responds to the river’s flow, reflecting both its ceaseless movement and the invisible barrier of water—like being trapped behind a window. As the river swells and recedes with the seasons, and as the light shifts, the sculpture transforms, first through the play of shadows and light, then gradually as reeds and algae form on and around it.
‘This ebb and flow evoke a dialogue with memory, challenging how we grasp fragments of images and ideas, always fluid and elusive in their formation,” says Jason.
After the installation was revealed, there were many positive responses and some backlash as well, with some calling it “disturbing” and “shocking”. Jason said that he was “surprised” at the backlash but welcomed difficult conversations it might inspire.
The restoration of these pieces was undertaken by the Canterbury Commemoration Society (www.cantcommsoc.co.uk) with funds generously provided by local businessmen.
