
Wishing Wells
2018
Sound, speakers, Copper coins, trailing leads
Ecce Iterum, Chester Castle and King Charles Tower Gardens Chester
'Wishing Wells' is a sound sculptural installation, constructed from a mixture of Georgian, Elizabethan and Edwardian copper coins, speakers and trailing leads. The coins have been exposed to oxidise, adding subtle moments of colour. Emanating from the speaker shaped sculptures are sounds of pennies falling, which have been modified to be at sightly different pitches and speeds. The sounds come in and out of sync in a meditative and contemplative arrangement. This was inspired by research into the minimalist music of Steve Reich, the German movement Klangkunst, and the sound sculpture of Rolf Julius.
Exhibited at Chester Castle, the piece draws on the history of the site’s former mint and well in the courtyard.
The first time this piece was installed was at the launch event 'Maelstrom' at King Charles Tower Gardens in Chester, alongside works by Bedwyr Williams, David Cotterrell and Kate Gater. During the opening night, viewers threw coins down onto the sculpture from the city walls. When the piece was then exhibited in the tower of the castle, visitors were invited to throw coins onto the installation and make a wish. At the end of the exhibition after a few months, several different types of coins had been added, including cents and euros.