Photo courtesy the artist
Photo courtesy the artist
Photo courtesy the artist
Photo courtesy the artist
Photo courtesy the artist
Photo courtesy the artist


‘Granite Sculpture II’, Tim Harrisson

For ‘Granite Sculpture II’, Tim Harrisson responded to Michael Manser’s new terminal building for Southampton Airport, the geography of the South Downs, the ancient history of the area and the impression of take-off and landing.

‘I wanted to complement the fine horizontal structure of the new terminal building by the architect Michael Manser and so convey a visual impression of ascent and descent. My main aim was to capture the idea and physical experience of movement, reflecting the dynamic view of landscape both as we see its physical surface and its underlying geological structure. By selecting granite, this allowed me to tap into the hidden geological forms which shape and continue to slowly re-mould the landscape we live in and move through. The way a landscape ‘appears’ to change as we actually look at it, either from sea, land or air, is also echoed in the piece as one moves around it, or indeed from above a plane which is landing or taking off, each different viewpoint dramatically altering our viewpoint and visual perception of the work.’

We managed the commission process from concept through to completion. Working closely with our client, we established the opportunities and constraints of the commission, developed the artist’s brief and managed the artist selection process, design, fabrication, site preparation, installation and opening.

We commissioned ‘Granite Sculpture II’ in 1995 on behalf of Southampton Airport, Hampshire.