Morpheus- Manchester Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show
↑
Project Year
2019
Client
RHS Chelsea Flower Show
This three-dimensional, site-specific outdoor sculpture graced the 2019 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, taking center stage within the Manchester Garden.
The Manchester Garden, featured in the “Space to Grow” category, provided a unique outlook on post-industrial cities. It celebrated the rejuvenation of Greater Manchester, showcasing its resilience and ability to adapt.
The Manchester Garden redefined our view of post-industrial cities by emphasizing the importance of green spaces and a commitment to sustainability. Within its design, it seamlessly integrated thought-provoking and well-considered concepts related to its themes.
During the design phase of Morpheus, a comprehensive approach encompassed cultural, historical, and environmental factors. Morpheus stretches across cultivated narrative zones, unfolding a narrative journey that narrates the evolution from Cottonopolis to the birthplace of Graphene.
The name “Morpheus” derives from the Ancient Greek word “μορφή,” meaning ‘form’ or ‘shape.’ In mythology, Morpheus is associated with sleep and dreams, as depicted in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, where he is described as the offspring of Sleep and appears in human form within dreams. Over time, during the medieval period, Morpheus’s name came to symbolize more broadly the deity of dreams and sleep.
Handcrafted elements and technological advancements were both taken into consideration when making this sculpture.
Morpheus commences its journey from the rear corner of the garden, symbolizing the inception of Manchester’s cotton industry. From there, it gracefully ascends, forming a subtle undulating curve reminiscent of the textiles and fabrics produced from cotton. As it progresses, it gently descends beneath the paving, as if drifting into slumber or a dream-like state.
Emerging once more from the ground amidst the urban landscape, Morpheus entwines itself with the surroundings, seamlessly blending with both the natural and built elements. This transformation mirrors the evolution from the paved environment to the uncharted path that leads to the realm of graphene, symbolizing the journey that lies ahead.
The bespoke, site-specific sculpture commences its narrative at the garden’s rear corner, signifying the birth of Manchester’s cotton industry. It then gracefully ascends, adopting a vertical posture, before flourishing into a graceful, sweeping curve.
This sculpture seamlessly integrates handcrafted elements with cutting-edge technology, embodying the core principles and ethos of Lazerian.
The sculpture’s form emerged through the creation of a sweeping surface that harmonized with the various elements of the garden. This surface was subsequently divided into a grid structure, mirroring the molecular arrangement found in both Cotton and Graphene—a hexagonal grid. Once this hexagonal network was established, each hexagon was meticulously redrawn, eliminating right angles and straight lines while ensuring approximately 30% of negative space. This design choice allowed for the gradual integration of planting with the sculpture over time.
The individual components were then meticulously crafted from carbon fiber, involving hand-cutting and finishing with a high-end 2k paint application. This meticulous assembly process not only built tension and fluidity within the piece but also ensured the seamless fusion of traditional craftsmanship with contemporary technology.
