RAINHAM RULES: QUEEN OF LONDON'S STREETS Installation

Rainham Rules is a graffiti art installation celebrating the work of Royal blacksmith Jean Tijou at newly opened and restored National Trust property Rainham Hall. There are rumours that Tjou was the man behind the railings at Rainham Hall and so I spent several months studying his designs and work, his greatest work is at Hampton Court, the 'River Screen' commissioned by William & Mary. The quality and design of Rainham's railings are reminiscent of the 17th century genius' work, albeit a pared down version but just as important as the railings were made in 1729, some 19 years after Tijou was dismissed by the his Royal patrons and vanished off the face of the earth. Iron is a defensive material and prior to Dutch influence in th 17th century, it was used primarily to promote fear. Tijou changed the character of wrought iron in Britain for good; he gave it extreme beauty, but his lively design contributed to social change. People would no longer fear approaching their neighbour.......entrances spoke of welcoming, happy-arms, from city streets to great estates of the landed gentry. As the story of Tijou and the wrought iron at Rainham Hall unfolded, my imagination ran wild and the more magical the ironwork became. Paying tribute to Tijou, architecture's greatest blacksmith, I graffitied Rainham's Hayloft, designing the walls so that it worked with the existing space, incorporating the lofts architectural features that would become part of the dramatic scene such as a fireplace, huge structural beams and a staircase. I wanted to use a contemporary medium to communicate better the historical story to my audience, making it easier to relate to. Tijou's design consisting of scrolls and nature such as flora and fauna was perfect for the application of rapid spray painting too; as I moved around the space painting it, it was just as if I was outside examining it filled with my history-design mad inner excitement, that's what made the installation expressive and dynamic. The large scale work allowed visitors to be submerged in the drama and romance of the unique story of the forgotten blacksmith of 17th century England. The installation was open as part of London's Open House Festival, a celebration of the capitals' architecture. Sponsored by the National Trust

Installation:Spray Paint on Plastic

Original:One-of-a-kind Artwork

Size:788 W x 96 H x 0.1 D in

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