Cast Iron Men at Commonswood School, Hatfield

Art in Architecture UEL Final Show 1996

“Cast Iron Men” was produced for the Art in Architecture Final Show at the University of East London in September 1996. On the MA course, in collaboration with The Enfield Foundry Co Ltd., Anna made two large-scale pieces of work, one of which, “Figurehead”, was installed in Poplar Dock, East London, in March 1998, having been purchased by LDDC.

Anna made the second, “Cast Iron Men”, for the entrance hall of the MA Final Show, the aim being to create an impact for visitors as they walk into the building, drawing them across the space and round to stairs leading to the rest of the exhibition. The figures also gave the foyer a focus and a human presence that helped to set the scene for the exhibition.

The two figures were made at The Enfield Foundry Co Ltd. in Waltham Cross, Herts. In each case the cast iron panels were bolted onto a steel framework which are then attached securely to walls and floor. Each figure is 1.5 metres high and weighs 0.5 tonne. Now, the figures can be seen outside at Commonswood School in Welwyn Garden City, Herts, originally part of part of a temporary sculpture trail organized jointly by the School and Herts Visual Arts Forum Sculptors Group, but now a permanent fixture.

http://www.commonswood.herts.sch.uk