Manhattan mettle
I was commissioned to make an art work for the huge lobby wall of the W Hotel in Hoboken, the well-known waterfront landmark on the Hudson River. Taking my cue from the magnificent views across the Hudson to the iconic skyline of Manhattan, inspiration came from the metallic shapes and landscape of the old docklands and waterfront industries of Hoboken.
My vision of New York was inspired by 1930s photographs of Manhattan on to which I layered an eclectic array of New York contemporary skyscrapers.
The mural is built upon a giant magnet which holds in place tens of thousands of metallic objects – including dollars and dimes, New York subway tokens, spanners, saws, shipbuilding nails and chains. A shipping container full of Margate’s best scrap metal was added to the mix, blending the flotsam and jetsam of Margate and Hoboken.
By using a magnet I was able to work and place the objects in a spontaneous way, enabling the possibility of an ever-changing cityscape. Working on a scale the size of a house enabled me to include details and visual puns, such as the helicopters with scissors for blades and the bank made from gold chains and dollar coins.
Since completing Manhattan Mettle, I return every year, channelling my inner architect, adding and subtracting buildings on a whim!
After Manhattan, Houston called! An oil tycoon staying at the W Hotel contacted me to commission a sculptural sequel for his Texas mansion. This time a bird’s eye view of a fantastical city made up of real and imaginary houses, woven with his life story from India to the US. Using scrap metal from oil rigs, sequins from saris, and a smattering of Margate’s finest salvage, I told his story the best way I know how… through objects.
