julian mayor. three stainless steel sculptural benches

julian mayor. three stainless steel sculptural benches have been installed at a regency apartments park near the tate britain gallery ...........................

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julian mayor

three stainless steel sculptural benches have been
installed at a regency apartments park near the tate
britain gallery, in pimlico, london. commissioned by
futurecity on behalf of barratt west london (housing
developers), julian created concepts for the art work
from a series of educational workshops based on
the history of the millbank penitentiary which previously
stood on the site. pupils from the local millbank primary
school are adding sketches based on the history of the
site to the surface of the benches, 'to best preserve the
intensity of their interpretations of the site through their
writing and drawings that are etched onto the surfaces.'

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‘I dont think my answers will set the earth shaking,
but here they are...’

about the benches...

‘the benches are called the regency benches,
some people think they look like icebergs or an armadillo,
but I dont really have my own name for them...

'the forms of the benches are intended to look as
though they are some of the inside of the earth
coming up, erupting out of the park.
movement and change are an important part of the
idea. change in that I hope the forms will reflect
the look of the sky throughout the day and through
the seasons, and movement in that the benches can
be seen best when in motion - by walking by them
the form is described as a series of lights and shadows.

‘the benches can be read at different scales, at a
distance they are visually arresting, and as people
approach a layer of complexity is revealed through
the students etchings and the way that the surface
quality of the metal has been altered during its
construction.’

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what is your daily routine?

I get up at about 8 or something, have breakfast. go to LCC
if I’m teaching, otherwise I usually think about things for a
while, and then get on with whatever is the current project.
probably telephone some people at some point in the day for
business/personal. eat a sandwich, surf the net a bit..
think about computer stuff...do some more on whatever Im
doing / think about random stuff...
in the evening, go running, then do cooking or cheap
restaurant - or have something cooked for me if Im lucky,
then either chat, drink, watch a film or read something.

do you have a motto?

when I was 10 years old I was in the cub scouts,
we had to shout 'we will do our best!',
I think that was a motto?
I liked shouting anyway...

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julian mayor
is an artist and designer based in
east london, uk. born in 1976, he graduated from the
university of northumbria in 1998 and went on to get a
masters at the RCA in 2000. juilan has worked for IDEO in
san francisco and palo alto for 4 years as a product
and interior designer.in 2003 he work on a chandelier
and table lamp for tom dixon. he currently is a lecturer
of spatial design at the london college of communication.
julian has had his work exhibited in new york, tokyo,
the uk and milan. his 'impression' chair (2003) gained
him much press attention along with his 'empress' chair
which carried on his investigation into contours and form.

http://www.julianmayor.com
http://www.futurecityarts.com
http://www.futurecitydesign.com

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