The Lucent building at Piccadilly Circus has been recently renovated, and now boasts a giant steel sculpture on one of its walls that’s been turning heads and claiming hearts for almost a month now.
It’s a truly unique sculpture that explores the relationship between nature and technology, two interconnected systems that exist in the UK capital and I was lucky enough to sit down recently with the creatives behind it.
The artwork was created by creative studio Acrylicize to provide a sense of placemaking and cultural character to the northwest corner of the Lucent development, commissioned by Landsec.
I caught up last week with Sean Bendall-Whittaker, Design and Innovation Lead at Acrylicize and James Burke, Founder and Global Creative Director at Acrylicize, to discuss everything from algorithmic particle systems to universal longing.
What inspired the concept of "London is a Forest" and how does it reflect the unique characteristics of London as a city?
‘London is a Forest’ takes its name from the city’s (often unknown) official status as a forest, exploring our relationship with the urban environment and the roles both nature and technology play in our increasingly curated daily experiences.
The sculpture symbolises a universal longing for tranquillity and connection to natural rhythms within the city, whilst simultaneously embodying London’s intricate network of technology and data.
How do you envision the sculpture representing the intersection of natural and digital networks in London?
We wanted to present nature and technology not as opposing forces, but as one symbiotic system that is inextricably linked, as is increasingly the case throughout the world. By using technology to create something organic, we could naturally achieve something that felt influenced by and reflective of both worlds.
Can you elaborate on the use of algorithmic particle systems in the design process and how this approach influenced the final form of the sculpture?
We set out to create a site-specific installation that engaged with the unique existing architectural features of corner adjacent connecting walls. Acknowledging the complexity of nature, especially in a 3D space, this approach required various software to bring our concept to life.
We utilised X-Particles, integrated with Cinema 4D, to create authentic fractal forms that grow and interact within the space, embodying the interplay of nature and technology. It meant we could create a dynamic sculpture that harmonises with both its environment and the organic patterns of natural growth.
In what ways do you believe "London is a Forest" contributes to creating a sense of placemaking and cultural character in the Lucent building area?
Soho is synonymous for its creativity, theatrics, and performance. I think the piece in some way captures that sense of drama that is inherent not just in human expression but across nature. For us, that spirit of spectacle was important to strive for as it embodies what the area stands for from a cultural and historic perspective and provides a strong visual identity to the unique north-west corner of the building.
How does the sculpture embody the concept of an 'oasis of calm' in the midst of a bustling urban environment?
London is an ever growing and evolving urban landscape. It's one of the busiest cities in the world and in the constant rush of getting places, doing things, and travelling at 100 miles per hour, we can easily lose sight of the organic and natural rhythms that have been guiding us for millennia.
The piece asks you to tune back into the memory of those rhythms and take a second to contemplate nature from two points of view; data points driving events such as weather, temperature, and general health of the environment, and as a wondrous, mystical experience to be enjoyed.
The geometric and angular brick walls contrasting with the flowing organic form of the sculpture creates a visual break in the urban landscape, which points to a changing attitude about the role that nature plays in our future wellbeing in the urban environment. We’re delighted that Lucent affords this opportunity to do so in such a public fashion.
What kind of reflection or reaction do you hope to evoke in the people who view "London is a Forest"?
We wanted ‘London is a Forest’ to give passersby a reason to pause and reflect on their relationship to nature and technology and consider their sense of place within the context of the built environment around them.
Could you discuss the collaborative aspect of humans and machines in the creation of this sculpture?
We essentially used the rules and parameters of technology to mimic those of nature, and shed some of our human desire to decide when and where nature exists. It wasn’t one or the other, it was more a dance between technology and human decision-making, working in tandem to create something that felt as natural and free of human influence as possible.
One of the key things we became acutely aware of - which made it even more necessary to incorporate technology into the creative process - was the limits of human perception. We are blind to certain things and fill in the gaps based on our biases and stereotypes, but with technology, those can be shaken.
We initially thought it could be seen as controversial to use technology to represent nature - but maybe it’s not that controversial, after all? Technology and nature have far more in common than you’d think.
Were there any significant challenges or surprises during the creation of the sculpture?
The key challenge we faced was how to achieve an authentic representation of this symbiotic relationship of nature and technology, and to create something that felt natural and organic, even ‘alive’.
Secondly, we needed to then format this to an architectural scale - no small feat. Our collaboration with technology was the answer to both of these challenges and helped us design a sculpture that felt authentically natural, and large enough in scale to be unmissable from the streets below.
Does Acrylicize have any plans for similar projects in other cities or locations, building on the themes explored in "London is a Forest"?
We're currently in the early development stage of a self-initiated project; a performative artwork that delves into the essence and potential of the present moment, celebrating life's vitality using technology. The project aims to transform the collective energy of performers and viewers into a tangible performance, harnessing our physiological responses through sensors attached to our bodies.
These responses will create a sound-based activation of the body's natural rhythm. This project transcends societal divisions, tapping into our common humanity to foster unity. It embodies the joy of expression and our belief that life is about connections. The aim is to blur the lines between observer and participant, to embody the core narrative for the project: existence is relationship.
