Output details

‘Without Borders 1&2’

Public sculpture: ‘Without Borders 1&2’, exhibited as part of the Travelling Exhibition of the World Association of Brick Artists (WABA) organised by the Sønderborg Cultural Department, Jutland, and Cathrinesminde Brick Museum, Sønderborg, Denmark.

Brief Description

This work develops Heeney’s previous research into brick as a sculptural medium; Shaping Earth (Heeney and Farrell 1999) and Brickworks (2003). This led to the foundation of WABA (World Association of Brick Artists), its inaugural conference and symposium at Cathrinesminde Brick Museum and Petersens Brick Company in 2011, and to the WABA group exhibition 2013, which will travel the Municipalities of Sønderborg for 20 years until 2033. WABA includes internationally renowned brick artists: Ulla Viotti, Sweden; Professor Kaufmann, Switzerland - Director, International Academy of Ceramics; Robert Harrison, Committee Member, NCECA and IAC; Fritz Verhring, Germany.

Research Rationale

With a research focus on site and place Heeney uniquely explores the Post Industrial Landscape of the Baltic shores where once 150 brick factories were in production. She investigates new ways of using the physical and metaphorical properties of shadow, light and reflectivity within brick sculpture to develop narratives of memory, cultural identity and spirit of place. Light and shadow become metaphors for the Baltic areas dark industrial past (the hard physical labour) set against its new creative future as well as historical border disputes between Germany and Denmark.

Strategies Undertaken

Working with Petersens Brick Company using their innovative new Kolumba brick (based on Roman bricks) Heeney utilises the extruder and traditional cutting box for shaping special bricks together with hand carving methods to explore new ways of creating light, shadow and reflectivity. She creates figurative artwork which is dissected into tall individual elements and strategically placed on the shores looking out to the Baltic where the light alters the forms throughout the day. Digital technologies including 3D modelling and laser cutting further extend her visual language together with new ways of firing brick achieving reflectivity on the surface through vapour glazing (cone 3 soda vapour) and coal firing techniques.