Concept
How do you define Essex?  Beyond the clichés there is a wealth of diversity and individual experiences, places and history that make the county. 

We all have our own opinions, and these connections and differences that make Essex so diverse mean there is no single statement that can sum up our county.  

Rather than trying to portray Essex with a single symbol, this sculpture proposal uses community involvement to describe Essex through its people and places.

Two statues, a woman and man, are set inside County Hall near the main entrance.  The faces of the figures are flat screen TV's, showing video footage about Essex.

These videos were created by interviewing people throughout Essex, filming their faces as they described what makes Essex special to them,  along with footage of places, buildings and events associated with their stories. 

When combined, these brief 'moments' that capture individual impressions create a body of work that truly represents 'Essex'.

The sculptures are freestanding on their bases, and so can be arranged to fit in with exhibitions and events at County Hall, and even taken on tour to promote Essex around the country and overseas.

Composition
The sculptures are positioned either side of the main thoroughfare, welcoming visitors to County Hall.  In this position, the screens face towards each other, giving the impression the statues are making eye-contact, and communicating with each other.

The orientation of the screens is portrait (i.e., 90° to normal TV viewing), so that the filmed faces fit the proportions better.  This format also helps the sculptures appear more human.

The head is the main focal point of each statue, but there are other details within the sculpture design.  The bodies are formed from metal oblongs, echoing the shape of the screen, and providing a physical representation of all the different views people have of Essex.

Also, each figure stands on a curved circular base with the title of the sculpture and a map of Essex laser cut into the surface. 

Community Involvement
This sculpture is all about the community, with input from a diverse range of people who live or work in the county.  Signals, a media resource facility based in Colchester were involved with the production of the videos.  Under their 'New Entrant' scheme, I worked closely with Martin Banks, Al Livingstone and Vikky Mathews filming and editting throughout the Summer and Autumn of 2005.

Their experience not only enabled them to assist me effectively, but added depth to the project with their creative input and knowledge.

Interviews were also carried out during a parents evening at St Helena Media Arts School in Colchester.  Luc Adams worked with selected students, to shoot the interviews and location footage. 

There is the potential for videoing to be an ongoing project, with more faces and places being added to the collection at later dates.

Fabrication
The material throughout is electropolished stainless steel, which gives a permanent highly reflective chrome surface, that will not peel or rust.   This material is extremely robust, and is easy to clean requiring no special maintenance.

The TV screens are flat screen TFT monitors, with stainless steel casing to match the appearance of the sculpture.  Concealed within the base of each statue is a DVD player providing the video display. 

The artist carried out all fabrication at his studio.