Sculptor Laura White’s striking installation challenges the uniformity and predictability of the urban sprawl that surrounds No.1 Station Approach.

Drawing inspiration from the dynamic and flowing style of the Baroque period, White’s creation pays homage to Bernini’s famous sculpture, Apollo and Daphne (1622 – 1625) which is represented on the large billboard on the Aylestone Hill end of the building.

Bernini’s sculpture depicts Daphne, a beautiful and fiercely independent nymph, evading Apollo’s amorous pursuit by changing into a tree. Bernini’s powerful sculpture captures the moment when Daphne begins this transformation; look closely and you will see that her hands and feet are already sprouting branches and leaves.

On the opposite end of the building, White’s installation echoes Bernini’s masterpiece too, but injects an element of unpredictability while remaining rooted in plain materials. The fabric that weaves through the undulating metal frame is white scaffolding sheeting, a product used on construction sites the world over. Using this humble material, the artist grounds the monumental sculpture in the everyday and connects it to the fabric of the city.

Positioned in this location, on one of the main arteries leading in and out of the city, the work establishes a vibrant conversation between the city and the magnificent Herefordshire landscape surrounding it.

Renowned for her adventurous use of materials, White constantly explores their boundaries and possibilities. Through this artwork, she celebrates the profound impact art can have, inviting viewers to contemplate the transformative power inherent in both the materials and the creative process.

A Meadow Arts and Hereford College of Arts commission, 2024

"With this artwork, Laura White continues her adventurous explorations into the use of materials and their powers of transformation. In the same way, this piece of public art will temporarily transform our perception of the building at No1 Station Approach."

- Anne de Charmant, Artistic Director at Meadow Arts

"Baroque Sprawl is such a fitting culmination of this 3-year partnership project between HCA and Meadow Arts. We are so happy to have been able to host Laura on campus at HCA whilst she put this large-scale sculpture together, and art students from a number of courses have been able to see the work evolve over time and interact with the artist to gain new insights. The result is an exciting and ambitious statement for the importance of sculpture in the city, prompting us to reflect upon the nature of our relationship with materials, mythology, and the landscape around us."

- Dr Daniel Pryde-Jarman, Head of School of Fine Art at Hereford College of Arts

The temporary work is the third bold public art commission for No.1 Station Approach. The project is one of fifteen launched in the city thanks to the support of Stronger Hereford, which aims to make the city greener, fairer, creative, digital and more connected. With support from HM Government’s Towns Fund to help Hereford blossom into a richly creative, digital, connected and highly-skilled place to live, work, study, visit and invest.

Commissioned by Meadow Arts and Hereford College of Arts

https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/37549