Our Work / Black Alphabet

Black Alphabet

  • Client: Lucy Skaer
  • Completion Date:

The Black Alphabet is a 26 unit sculptural arrangement of actual size identical copies of Constantin Brancusi's 'Bird in Space' #16. Each one is cast from a mix of Anthracite Coal and Polyester Resin.

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About the Project

The resin content is kept to a minimum to avoid a plastic appearance, but with enough to bind the very weak coal together.

Once removed from the molds, the birds are then mechanically cleaned and chemically etched to reveal the fine coal particles.

The resulting surface is like a jet black volcanic stone. Both quite sinister and very beautiful.

This work was commissioned by Chisenhale Gallery in 2008 and went on show as part of Lucy's entry for the Turner prize in Tate Britain, 2009.