Children recast their stories in clay

13th April 2007
Sculptor Duncan Hooson has been encouraging young clients at the MF to embody their memories in clay in a project that will give their work a permanent home in London.

In a joint initiative with community arts specialist Pan Intercultural Arts and the October Gallery, the MF invited Hooson to work with two groups of children in creating a series of clay seats that will be placed in the London centre's Healing Garden, a haven for clients undergoing horticultural-inspired therapy.

"I've always enjoyed involving other people in what I do, rather than working simply for exhibition," says Hooson, whose public commissions include pieces for the BBC, Peckham Library, Hornsey Hospital and the Sunday Times. He also works prolifically as an artist in residence with schools, hospitals and community projects. "I like to facilitate projects that involve wide groups of people and engage them in something that's public. The enjoyment is all in sharing the skills."

During a series of workshops over the Easter, two groups of clients were asked to design work based on their favourite things. Their designs were transformed into small clay tiles which they then crafted onto stools ready prepared by Hooson. The seats were also etched with parts of their designs and will eventually be painted white before being placed in the Healing Garden.

Mita Banarjee, who has been working with the MF as part of Pan Intercultural Arts since 2002, said: "The good thing about this project is that it has been continuous, which is especially important with children at the MF who may have been uprooted several times. For us to have been able to work with the groups over seven years is a really good opportunity."