We’ll admit it: most of our reasons to hang out in Coal Drops Yard revolve around putting things in our mouths – hello Hicce, Parillan, Vermueteria, Barrafina. So it’s easy to forget there’s often interesting public art there, too.
The latest is a bit of a must-see: a new outdoor site-specific installation by renowned 88-year-old US artist Sheila Hicks, it’s one you (literally) can’t miss.
You may recall Hicks for her ground-breaking work which incorporates distinctive colours, natural materials, and personal narratives. Responding to the restored Victorian architecture, Hicks has made a vast, floating sculpture which transforms Coal Drops Yard into an intertwined environment of colour and moving forms. And it feels extremely positive to experience. Especially when the sun’s out.
Creating a conversation between a sculpture and an existing architectural environment is at the heart of Hicks’ work. Parallel cables are suspended and organized like the warp threads of a colossal loom – a nod to the textile industry of the Victorian era – with ribbons of coloured fabrics criss-crossing the cavernous space of Coal Drops Yard.
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You can walk through the installation, or just sit directly underneath with a coffee or beer as it flutters against the breeze, watching the shadows thrown below.
