The Burnside Nest is part of a body of work that brings my sculpture back to the urban context where it had it’s genesis in London in the early 2000’s. The driving impetus for the “Nest” body of work was an inquiry into values and how they determine the direction in which culture moves. In my reserach I came to see the Nest as a symbol of the individuals power to decide what it actually and to create based on a deep understanding of the land. Using the nesting process of birds as a creative strategy, found materials, (the discarded, flimsy and valueless), are fused together to create structure, space and often beauty. Using minimal hand tools (a knife and a hatchet) the materials are woven together without the use of fasteners, nails or screws. The Burnside nest is both a demonstration of individuality and of the power of creation. The nesting process inherently creates a structure based on the circumstance of the site and its ecology thus embodying a cradle to cradle principle. The making of the nest connects us to the land where it was made and can be seen as a strategy to connect us to nature and place in a way that our dwellings always have until very recent times. On a base level I want to push the envelope on what is physically possible in the city and to create a moment or experience that acts as a rift in the default 'reality'. There is opportunity in this rift for contemplation, insight and for recasting a relationship with the natural world. I believe that being connected to nature changes us and lays a foundation upon which we make better decisions. Under our current dominant paradigm this is deeply subversive. The Burnside Nest is graffiti architecture and street art of the land. The Burnside Nest is the subject of a documentary series produced by Red Bull Media House called 'State of Art' about contemporary artists and their process featuring among others Ron English, Gaia and Millie Brown. The series will air on television worldwide.
