The Reflection Garden: Prince Philip Hospital - Public commission.
A Touch of Hope: Following the concept direction set out by the staff at Prince Philip Hospital, conversations around this memorial sculpture focused specifically on capturing a poignant moment during the pandemic where a patient and child were witnessed trying to communicate through a hospital window.
This vivid image has the ability to resonate with us all, as most of us have been affected in some way by the pandemic or have seen images of a similar nature dominating the media during that time.
I have set out to capture this single moment using life casts taken from a friend and from my son, to recreate every detail of their arms and hands. Their pointed index fingers reach out as if trying to touch, but are prevented from physical contact by an implied pane of glass. A modest polished stainless-steel frame supports the hands and represents the window frame.
The frame and patinated bronze hands are set upon an imposing piece of Welsh Blue Pennant sandstone. This stone plinth imbues several meanings such as depicting the gravity of the pandemic and the strong resilience and stoicism of the Welsh people and frontline staff involved, both locally and nationally.