By reusing more than half a ton of coal, designer
Paul Cocksedge has created an amazing installation that, in addition to being a true work of art, has the capacity to
light a 200 W light bulb for a year. The installation is suspended from the ceiling of
Liverpool Cathedral and has been named
Coalescence .
The artwork is 6 metres in diameter and was created using anthracite, a
high-gloss type of coal that reflects light and shines amazingly, especially when placed in a darker space, such as the vast
Gothic ceiling of the Grade I listed building – home to the Cathedral.
The material was specially sourced from one of the
last remaining coal mines in the UK , with each individual piece being hand-drilled and carefully arranged to create the suspended sculpture. The designer used the raw material to
reflect on energy consumption and how we produce it. “Ultimately, we as a planet need to move away from burning coal,” he says.
“Coalescence was designed to spark curiosity and encourage conversation about energy consumption. What makes the artwork so visually appealing is the surprising beauty of the highly reflective material, despite the common preconception that coal is ugly and dull.” The Coalescence installation is part of a programme of events, exhibitions and artworks leading up to the 100th
anniversary of Liverpool Cathedral .
