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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.

Honouring sustainability

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.
Wide angle of the Manchester Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower show featuring the carbon fibre art sculpture made using geometric shape forms
Extreme close up of a carbon fibre geometric shapes as part of a contemporary art sculpture that was diaplyed in the Manchester Garden at the RHS Chelseas Flower Show

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.

Close up of art sculpture using white carbon fibre geometric shapes with purple flowers poking through

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.

Liam Hopkins of Lazerian sitting on his art sculpture in the Manchester Garden at the 2019 RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Liam Hopkins of Lazerian and the team at Exterior Architects stood in the Manchester Garden at the 2019 RHS Chelsea Flower Show
SIde view of the Manchester Garden at the 2019 RHS Chelsea flower show showcasing the white carbon fibre design exterior sculpture by Lazerian
RHS Chelsea Flower Show: Lazerian's Sculpture in the Manchester Garden
RHS Chelsea Flower Show: Lazerian's Sculpture in the Manchester Garden
Sculpture Inspired by Cotton and Graphene. Carbon Fiber Grid Sculpture: Garden Integration. Lazerian-chelsea-flower-show-manchester-garden-carbon-fibre-sculpture-art-piece.
Sculpture Inspired by Cotton and Graphene. Carbon Fiber Grid Sculpture: Garden Integration. Lazerian-chelsea-flower-show-manchester-garden-carbon-fibre-sculpture-art-piece.
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