Alphonso

Working closely with the Newton Leys Public Art Commission Steering Group, Sarah created Alphonso – a textured three-sided sculptural structure, which includes a decorative archway and seat overlooking the beautiful environment around Willow Lake.

Taking inspiration from local heritage, in particular the former brickworks, Alphonso is built from wood-fired brick and incorporates a bespoke hand-painted image inspired by azulejos tiling, depicting the local area, its wildlife and history.

Located on top of a clay mound, the structure is built upon a concrete raft containing internal drainage and a wind post to overcome any concerns of instability. Handmade cut brick was used on the east elevation, creating a richly nuanced speckled brown surface with a textured fish motif that repeats across the elevation, with dark glaze to illuminate the eyes. This is complemented with an expanse of fresh blue and white architectural tile on the west side, where the artist has hand-painted images of the brick chimneys and kilns from yesterday and representations of the nature that makes this site so special today.

The three-sided, flat iron, triangular form of Alphonso plays perceptual games. Using blue and white tiling, when viewed from a distance, across the expanse of water, an illusion of transparency is created against the sky. A further disappearing act becomes apparent in the flat iron shape, from the nearest houses, the sharp angle gives Alphonso a narrow form, and the archway and the expanse of pictorial detail only come into focus as the viewer moves closer, and ambles around the artwork