Concrete, Liquid Rust, Steel and Recycled Aggregate

These works are the result of a collaboration with The ECSG, the Epidemiology Cancer Statistics Group based at York University. This group looks into the complexities of analysing haematological malignancies, such as leukaemia and lymphomas.

The work wishes to highlight that while socio-demographics are not a determining factor in occurrence of blood cancers, it does play a role in the outcome and survival rate of the more chronic conditions. This fact, similar in many other chronic conditions, needs to be highlighted and ultimately rectified.

The ubiquitous material of concrete has been used, because concrete can suffer from its own form of cancer. When the concrete surface starts to degrade it increases in porosity, allowing water to penetrate and compromise the integrity of the steel reinforcement bars. When this happens quite often rust can be seen leaching from the concrete.

The pieces have a refined polished texture gradating to a rough and crude surface. This symbolises the indexes used for socio-demographics. The more polished and refined the concrete environment, the more the impact of the obstacles can be softened. This for me equates to the perennial fact that in a socially affluent area the obstacles that make others falter are rendered less harmful.

I have come to learn that the concerns, honest techniques and data depictions of these brilliant researchers are something to aspire to as an artist. They methodically unearth and render an uncompromising story of the human condition; I only hope my work can contribute to the telling of it.