Accession Code: wu0908 Title: Forest Planet - 3 2009 Date completed: 2009 Classification: Sculpture Medium: Black basalt boulder Height (mm): 1000 Width (mm): 1000 Depth (mm): 1000 Inscription: Location Name :Outside Location Description: Senate House Lawn Location Floor: n/a

This sculpture is one of three gifted to the University by the artist. The three works were exhibited in Atsuo Okamoto's first London exhibition in 2011 at the Rootstein Hopkins Parade Ground, Chelsea College of Art and Design.

The starting point for each of these works was the drilling of holes into the boulder. This drilling is very precise and carefully calculated in order that each of the separate drill holes meet in the centre of the stone. The carving then continues around selected holes, producing pipe-like shapes. These can be quite organic, as in this work, or more geometric as in the case of Forest 2011-2 Planet. Sound is often an integral part of the artist's work as demonstrated in two of the three pieces. Okamoto believes that stones hold memories and the sound played within the stone (produced and recorded by the artist) is an attempt to give voice to these memories.

 

Slideshow: