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Brett
Payne is one of three sculptors working on the "Cutting Edge"
sculpture.
Along
with Sheffield colleagues Chris Knight and Keith Tyssen, he is creating
a work made of Sheffield steel that will stretch for
We
caught up with Brett in his Sheffield studio, and asked him about
this groundbreaking project.
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| Brett
Payne, one of the sculptors working on the project |
Brett,
tell us about your team.
"Keith was, until recently, head of the Metalwork and Jewellery
department at Sheffield Hallam University. He was born and educated
in Sheffield."
"Chris
and I both came to the city some twenty years ago. I was attracted
by the breadth and quality of its metal and Silversmithing traditions.
After taking degrees in 3-Dimensional Design at Psalter Lane, we
both chose to live and work in Sheffield."
What's
the inspiration behind the project?
"It's a product of Sheffield; conceived and designed in Sheffield
for Sheffield. It can be made in Sheffield, by Sheffield people,
using expertise and materials produced in Sheffield."
Can
you describe the Cutting Edge to us?
"The sculpture has two ends; at the top of Sheaf Square it's
circular, at the Station end it's elliptical. The ends will be set
with coloured glass designed by Keiko Mukade and lit from the inside.
The glass is glorious - it'll radiate a jewel-like quality."
"It
follows the incline of the land - it'll be about a metre in diameter
at the high end, and about 4.5 metres tall at the low end."
"The
sculpture will curve gently for nearly 90m, and it's lit from below.
This means that at night, it'll look almost as if it's floating."
What
do you think Cutting Edge represents?
"We think it represents Sheffield鈥檚 historic and contemporary
ability, through the skill of its people and the power of its industrial
expertise, to refine, to produce and to create objects of beauty,
awe and worth. Cutting Edge stands as a symbol of the pride and
strength of Sheffield."
"Plus,
it's made of Sheffield steel. What better link with Sheffield could
there be?"
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