I wanted the shapes of Collide O Scope to appear rounded and soft, in contrast to the angles and straight lines of the vast WX space. Each of the six giant lozenge shapes in the work is approx 2 metres wide and 1.5 metres tall. The letter forms are my own handwriting! They are edged with a birch ply veneer to lend a retro vibe - a nod to homeliness - a cluster of ornamentation. Mirrors, or fridge magnets perhaps - personalising this vast canvas of public gathering space.
The bespoke lighting app allows people to change the patterns and repeats and colours of the LED lights. To suit mood or occasion or whim! I have loved designing ‘Collide O Scope’, working alongside many other people who made this possible. I’m looking forward to learning how inhabitants and visitors to this place interact with the work
‘Collide O Scope’ is a playful twist on words. A kaleidoscope is a simple optical toy that uses mirrors and coloured shapes to create shifting patterns visible only to the viewer. The word comes from the Ancient Greek kalos (beautiful), eidos (form), and skopeō (to look or examine): observation of beautiful forms. This light piece reflects the artists’ observation of beautiful forms: the richness and diversity of Wakefield’s people, cultures, and identities.
Move around the WX building and notice what changes as you look at the lightwork. As with a toy kaleidoscope, your viewpoint shapes what you see. Even when we look at the same scene, we may perceive it differently. To collide with scope is to stay curious - to challenge expected norms, to seek out new perspectives and unexpected voices, and to be part of a diverse human chorus.
Developed through conversations with WX businesses and creative exploration with pre-school children, the sculpture is designed to be colourful, dynamic, and a starting point for conversation within this shared physical ‘Third space’. The lyrics are from a new song commissioned from local singer-songwriter Maddie Morris. Collide O Scope plays with reflection and illusion. As you move in the space, the letter colours appear to shift. Words that look green from the balcony may appear orange from the ground floor; blues may become purples from another angle. Here is an optical illusion that mirrors human cognition; there is no trick - our brains constantly predict what we see, and perspective always shapes perception.
Collide O Scope was commissioned by Unlimited and Wakefield Council as part of Our Year 2024; the commission was supported using public funding from the National Lottery Project Grants Programme, administered by Arts Council England. The artpiece was fabricated by M3 studios in Salford.