Sarah Sabin

Sarah’s work has been concerned for a number of years with ‘digging about under the surface’. This often involves a gathering of histories, taken from both locations and people, and a dissecting, and reassembling of them. Methods and processes used in Archaeology often play a part directly in the research and making of her artwork, which has been variously described as multi-layered and mischievous. Her work creatively interprets and reimagines places and their histories, through making, public participation, and site-specific projects in the public realm.

Sarah uses a wide range of media in two and three dimensions, often collaborating with other artists and specialists working in different disciplines including Archaeologists, Museum Curators and Architects.

www.sarahsabin.co.uk

Examples of previous commissions:

Greenfields Community Housing HQ: Climbing Plant
'Climbing Plant' - Greenfields Community Housing H.Q, Braintree Essex. 2009

Water-jet cut aluminium and enamel paint. 300cm x 200cm approx. Commissioned by Greenfields Community Housing. Building Architects Richards Partingdon. Designed using objects and images from the public, 'Climbing plant' represents the community with its many branches and connections and embedded history; The artwork is painted the same colour as the wall, and sits above the surface; being brought to life by shadows formed by the changing light in the building. It is permanently sited on the first floor.

'Of gunpowder and gold' (limited edition of 50) 2011
Commissioned by firstsite.

In collaboration with UCL Institute of Archaeology Artists Book, (with essay by Jordan Kaplan and XRF interpretation by Professor Thilo Rehren); milled building material and wax formed into a pellet, on a glass dish contained in airtight capsule; 2 digital prints on architecture paper of XRF analysis of the pellet; with laser cut gold coated object. Individually signed and numbered by the artist in presentation box. 297x260x38mm Created whilst Sarah was Artist in residence at UCL Institute of Archaeology. Sarah was commissioned by firstsite to respond to the site of their new building. She was fascinated by the site being supported by infill from demolished portions of Colchester Garrison and the connections and history between them. The resulting artwork being ‘Of gunpowder and gold', a limited-edition series of objects and an artist’s book.

Artists commission

The artwork looks to enhance the setting for Anstey Way and reference the unique heritage and context of the area. The locations for the artworks are the tiled finishes applied to the recessed entrances and panels adjacent to communal entrance doors. Sarah’s designs provide each of the eight entrances with its own unique design.

A community engagement programme formed a key part of the development of ideas with workshops, presentations, and events taking place with pupils attending Fawcett Primary School, Trumpington Residents Association and the local allotments.

An event was held at the Pavillion on the 26 May for local residents to discuss the design proposals for the artwork and to produce their own Cyanotype print, a photography technique that has informed Sarah’s designs for the tiled entrance ways.