Output details

Found - A publically-sited permanent artwork

Germain was commissioned by RKL Art Consultants to produce a permanent new artwork for the redevelopment of Sunderland Central train station for operator, Nexus. Building on Germain’s practice-led research into how photography can be used to explore the everyday whilst being visually intriguing and engaging to viewer to re-think the subject, he chose to work with the objects left behind on public transport. Germain worked with the lost property office, sifting and selecting objects and referring to the information recorded in log-books as items are handed in, as well as interviewing staff and passengers. The final works concentrate on the tiny individual losses, whilst referencing the numbers of people who travel everyday and the even larger numbers of possessions carried on these journeys whilst alluding to human nature itself, as we are all prone to the lapses of concentration that cause us to leave things behind.

The scale of the work was an important consideration as the site-specific nature required the works to be photographic quality printed onto industrial glass covering 100 metres of brick wall facing the platforms. ‘Found’ is one of the first permanent public artworks to use this new technological and material approach.

The final works have been commended by both RIBA and RICS, receiving the RIBA Northern Network Award 2011 and being Highly Commended by RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) 2011.