A CHESTER artist has been selected to create a centrepiece sculpture at the new M&S Cheshire Oaks store using materials left over from construction.
Sculptor Robin Connelly has used oak from the site to sculpt his piece, entitled Rhyme and Repose, which will be displayed prominently on the banks of the store’s swale pond when it is opened by Joanna Lumley on August 29.
Detailing the interconnected cycles within nature, the sculpture comprises four sections of wood that are interlinked, a theme typical of Robin’s past works.
Robin, who has produced numerous sculptures made from wood, was commissioned by M&S after impressing the team with his vision for the piece.
A shortlist of local timber artists was drawn up, with M&S bosses looking at past works as well as their plans for the Cheshire Oaks sculpture before choosing Robin.
“I wanted to use the wood to create a visual representation of the rhythms of nature,” said Robin.
“I used chainsaws to create my sculpture which gives the finished pieces an urgency and immediacy you don’t find with other methods – the chainsaw is a much quicker medium than a chisel, for example.”
Robin’s 7ft sculpture is created from wood that was left over during the build of the new M&S store at Cheshire Oaks.
Throughout the building process the aim has been to send as little material as possible to landfill, with excess materials donated to causes including play areas, a rabbit sanctuary and local schools.
Robin added: “It is a great project and one that I’m very excited to be working on. I live in Chester so I’ve seen the new M&S store go up over the past few years and, like most people, I’ve been curious about its opening.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing my sculpture on site and hope that people enjoy it.”
M&S Cheshire Oaks is the biggest M&S store outside of London, second in size to the retailer’s flagship Marble Arch store on Oxford Street, London. It will open at 10am on August 29.
