Siren

Monumental sculptural piece created by the artist using found local Sussex wood.

The Siren has been long held as one of those rare contradictory creatures that elicit a sense of both warning and attraction; one where you are drawn to the very thing that you know you must resist.

The most famous depiction of the Siren in classical mythology comes from Homer’s Odyssey. The poet tells of how Circe, the goddess of magic, cautions Odysseus and his crew about the Sirens who inhabit a small island.

These creatures, with their irresistible voices drifting across the waves, were capable of luring ships completely off course, leaving unfortunate sailors to founder on the rocks or die abandoned on shore. Although the siren is never physically described by Homer, it was commonly believed in Greek mythology that sirens were half-bird, half-female creatures. Only many centuries later did this myth evolve to gain an association with the Siren having mermaid tails.

In creating the Siren, I imagined her to be larger than life. I wanted her to be magnificent; to be visually and texturally compelling - that you will find yourself drawn to her. And yet at the same time, a voice in your head might be saying beware, approach with caution, be sensible, do not surrender yourself entirely.

Siren has taken three and a half years to complete and she is 3m tall with 4.5m wing span using in the main oak, chestnut and red cedar; all of which would have been natural waste and which now has been successfully reimagined and up cycled to create this extraordinary sculptural piece.

Watch walk through tour with the artist - view