Art / News
Experimental new sculpture to slowly transform over time
The superstition of hammering a coin into a tree to make a wish is believed to have originated in Victorian times and has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years.
But the revival of the ‘wishing tree’ tradition has prompted a warning from organisations like the National Trust who have said that a growing number of coins have been found embedded on their properties.
An experimental new sculpture by Luke Jerram continues the theme but with a giant wooden seed that the Bristol artist hopes will slowly be transformed by members of the public making a wish and hammering in a small coin.
is needed now More than ever
Jerram hopes the coin-studded sculpture “will gradually become an intricate and complex work of public art”.
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New Beginnings, which has been installed at Ashton Court, is set to be the first in a series of both temporary and permanent coin sculptures made by Jerram, which he says will create “a slowly changing landmark in the landscape, a destination and focus for public discussion”.
“I love idea of a seed: as a capsule of information and an object of potential that contains everything inside, a plant needs to grow,” said Jerram, whose studio is in the Paintworks.
“I hope the public enjoy interacting with this new sculpture and it acts as a capsule of their hopes, dreams and imagination!”
Luke Jerram’s previous works include the giant Earth and Moon, Play Me I’m Yours pianos, and the water slide down Park Street – photo: Luke Jerram
Visitors to the sculpture are invited to hammer a coin into the giant seed and make a wish for the future, with the hammer attached on a chain to the artwork.
New Beginnings was made by Jerram in collaboration with Alistair Park the sculpture was made with support from Artspace Ashton Court, We Are From Dust and Artspace Lifespace.
Main photo: Luke Jerram
Read more: ‘After Life’ bench installed in Bristol
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