If you’ve been to Surrey’s new city hall, you’ve seen them overhead: a flock of shiny birds flying through the high-ceiling atrium.
The soaring sculpture, called Together, is one of the city’s newest public artworks.
The Danish artists who created the piece will be speaking about the work this week during an information talk hosted by Surrey’s Public Art Program.
Sophie Nielsen and Rolf Knudsen will share how they blended an inspiration taken from nature, and Leonardo da Vinci’s image of human achievement to create the form of the birds, the overall sculpture and its symbolism of freedom and community effort. They will also describe the process of making their vision a reality – from concept to installation of the 20-metre-long display in the six-storey-high atrium.
Though both are Danish, Nielsen and Knudsen lived in other countries before setting up their studio in London.
Their previous public art commissions include the Wallsai Hospital Atrium and the Bristol Heart Institute Outpatients Reception. They also have a public art commission in development for Bloor Street in Toronto. Their private commissions include works for Clark Shoes headquarters, Ames Hotel Boston, Burberry, H&M and others.
The Surrey talk will take place April 24, 7-8 p.m. in Surrey City Hall, 13450 104 Ave.
