The question is how to recreate our concept ideas and designs into an impressive three-dimensional artwork that fits onto a wall 15m high x 18.5m wide? Obviously impossible to achieve without plenty of pre-planning and co-ordination on the parts of ourselves, our production and installation team and of course everyone involved at the hospital!
First stage was to lay out the pre-printed template for the central heart of birds. All birds were specifically numbered – they just needed to be found and systematically positioned on their allocated outline on this template.
Parts of the template were gradually cut away as the installation progressed. It was a long and painstaking process and the scissor lift needed to descend to pick up other batches of birds many times. It’s during these times, when the lift has descended, that we can view the gradual creation of our design – a very humbling yet exciting process, like watching a stop-frame animation film!
Of course we also analyse the gradual development by ascending to a higher floor in the hospital and viewing from above. I met many people while overseeing our developing project who made enquiries about the meaning of the artwork and in return give wonderful and appreciative feedback. Though, as soon as the wording ‘the Gift of Life’ was fitted most people understand the nature of the piece without need for enquiry!
Next stage was to fit the undulating supplementary text and mount the plaque that succinctly explains the artwork and has specific details on how to register to become an organ donor.
After this all the other birds were installed, those that gather together in groups to fly towards the already complete birds forming the heart shape. We decided to create templates for these groups of birds rather than trying to visually piece together the installation from afar. This entailed a lot of kneeing down on a hard floor, taping together pieces of paper, drawing a grid on these pieces of paper, finding the relevant birds, placing in the right places by utilising the grid, then drawing around each one.
A close-up showing various birds flocking together; flying towards those already congregating to form the heart shape.
This photo clearly depicts the sheer scale of the completed installation.
This image shows the scissor lift at its most extended whilst fitting Dunlin and Turnstone birds that soar towards the highest part of the wall, representing freedom and new life.