Under the Eye of the Light
2024
Under the Eye of the Light is a permanent public artwork by architecture and ideas studio CAN and artist Felicity Hammond. The artwork has been commissioned by Eastleigh Borough Council using developer’s contributions, to create a community gathering space at the centre of Hatch Farm.
The artwork draws inspiration from historic barrows, and uses the motif of the maypole as the vertical axis connecting the earth to the more mystical realms of the universe.
The seating in the artwork is shaped to the outlines of leaves, gathered by children at St James’ C of E Primary School, and the colours mirror the vast night sky. On top of each of the maypoles are astronomical symbols for the eight planets in our solar system.
Let’s Meet the Team…
Felicity Hammond and Mat Barnes, who are based in South East London, were selected from a list of 45 applications for their approach to this special project.
Hammond has shown her work around the world including solo exhibitions in Antwerp, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Toronto. She won the Lumen Art Prize in 2018, FOAM Talent in 2016, and the British Journal of Photography International Photography Award in 2016. The artist completed a PhD at Kingston University in 2021 and has recently delivered public art commissions for Colchester and Ipswich Museums; Brighton and Hove Council; and for PHOTO 2021 in Melbourne, Australia.
CAN (Critical Architecture Network) is a RIBA Chartered Practice, formed in 2016 by architect Mat Barnes. CAN won the RIBA Rising Star award in 2021 and their striking residential project ‘Mountain View’ was longlisted for RIBA House of the Year in 2022.
