Marine Interior Architectural Commission

Project: Marine Interior Architectural Commission

Strata: Eroded Form - Foundational piece from the Eroded Collection.

A foundational piece from the Eroded collection, this sculpture marks a conscious break from the classical tradition of pristine cast bronze. Grounded in the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, finding beauty in transience, weathered asymmetry and the natural life cycle of materials, the work discards polished surfaces and uniform finishes in favour of geological fissures, coarse textures and reactive chemical patina. Selected for a contemporary marine interior, the piece serves as an elemental, earth hewn anchor against the sleek lines of modern naval architecture.

Architectural Context & Spatial Dialogue

Commissioned to create a focal point for an upscale dining venue aboard an international cruise ship, the studio developed an Eroded Form designed to sit in direct dialogue with the vessel's interior architecture.

Working from architectural space plans and 3D elevation drawings, the sculpture was scaled specifically to anchor a sweeping, curved vertical timber feature wall at the restaurant’s entrance. The soft, organic silhouette and eroded contours provide a tactile, earth hewn counterbalance to the precise geometry of the ship’s contemporary architectural joinery.

Combining both cast and fabricated sections, the sculpture and custom plinth incorporate fully TIG-welded bronze anchored by a heavy gauge internal sub assembly. This concealed framework connects directly to a bespoke baseplate with high tensile threaded studs, enabling seamless, mechanical fixing by the installation team without compromising the artwork’s clean lines.

A weathered bronze sculpture of a human face in profile view on display at a museum.
A metal square ruler on a wooden table.
Close-up of a melted, irregularly shaped metal sculpture with rainbow-like burn marks and textured surfaces.
A metal plate with six drilled holes and two protruding threaded bolts, resting on a workbench or table.
Close-up of a metallic slag or burned metal piece with iridescent and textured surface on a wooden workbench.
Close-up of a metal fabrication with welded joints, holes, and threaded tube inserts inside a partially assembled stainless steel structure.
Close-up of a metal sculpture resembling a human face in profile, with detailed textures and indentations.
Close-up view of a black rectangular object with two brass-colored mounting plates, each with multiple screw holes and bolts, on a textured surface in a workshop.
Metalworker shaping a large metal cube with a hammer on top in a workshop.
A metal workpiece with multiple drilled holes, placed on a workbench, with a nearby metal sheet that also has drilled holes, possibly indicating metal fabrication or welding preparation.

Surface Preparation & Patination

The sculpture underwent intensive surface preparation, including high pressure water and grit blasting to remove any residual oxides and embedded ceramic shell particles. A multi stage chemical patination followed, foundational base coats were applied to prime the metal, then selectively cut back to accentuate the high points. A layered hot torch patina was then built up gradually to develop a deep, oxidised verdigris across the form, contrasted by warm ferric tones along the outer rim and raised contours. Finally, the reactive surface was chemically stabilised and sealed with a dual barrier of ceramic coating and microcrystalline paste wax.

Logistics & Handover

Handled on an ex-works basis, the studio oversaw the piece from final finishing to collection. The sculpture and its integrated pedestal were secured in an export ready, ISPM15 certified timber crate (total gross weight: 155 kg). Handover documentation included detailed installation drawings, technical specifications and maintenance advice to ensure a smooth install on site.

Sculpture of a woman's head mounted on a pedestal against a vertical wooden panel wall.
A large, textured, abstract sculpture with a face emerging from a weathered, multicolored stone surface featuring shades of blue, orange, white, and brown, displayed outdoors against a brick and metal background.
A wooden crate with plywood sides and a partly visible package label on the front, in a workshop setting.
Large oval stone sculpture mounted on a rectangular pedestal, viewed from above with dimensions 600mm by 1600mm.
A metal box with a tarnished, multicolored patina surface, resting on a multicolored cloth in a workshop environment.
Close-up of a textured, weathered metal surface with rust and patina in shades of orange, blue, and brown, featuring areas of corrosion and small dents.
Close-up of a textured, weathered tree trunk with moss and cracks, with some orange and blue streaks of light reflecting on the surface.
Part of a metal structure or frame, with visible welds and a threaded pipe fitting inside the frame opening.
A square black box with colorful abstract patterns sits on top of a larger panel with similar colors, placed on a rough fabric surface.
Close-up of foam insulation panels inside a wooden frame on a workbench.