Seed

A seed is an object of hope. Holding potential and growth to come.

The seed is symbolic of diaspora. The etymology of diaspora originates in the Greek verb to scatter/sow. In thinking of migration and dispersion from one’s original homelands is to sow into a new environment to take root and grow.

There is a history of migrating with seeds. My ancestors who left Ireland during the potato famine journeyed to South Africa with seed and grain in hope of lands to cultivate. The entanglement of diaspora and colonialism is complex yet in making bronze seeds I am wanting to open the conversation.

Seeds of Hope

2024
Cast bronze, pewter and aluminium seed pods, steel mobile and fishing wire.

180 x 120 x 80 cm
Edinburgh College of Art Degree Show

A seed is just the beginning, the growth comes with care and a desire to endeavour. This endeavour of growing from seed I associate with casting. I knew I wanted to cast the seeds in precious metals to emphasise their importance and halts their decay. However, I did not for see that the two processes - gardening and casting would mirror one another through time taken, collective labor and enjoyment of the venture.

1. Leucaena leucocephala I, Aluminium, 121mm, 8g, £47.12

2. Jacaranda mimosifolia I, Aluminium, 58mm, 30g, £54.60

3. Ceratonia siliqua, Aluminium, 98mm, 24g, £ 45

4. Robinia pseudoacacia I, Aluminium, 78mm, 12g, £37

5. Leucaena leucocephala II, Aluminium, 86mm, 3g, £37.20

6. Terminalia brownie I, Aluminium, 54mm, 13g, £42

7. Vachellia xanthophloea, Aluminium, 81mm, 3g, £36

8. Terminalia brownie II, Aluminium, 55mm, 11g, £41.80

9. Campsis radicans, Aluminium, 154mm, 52g, £72.12

10. Bauhinia galpinii, Aluminium 75 mm, 4g, £38

11. Raphia hookeri, Aluminium, 89mm, 161g, £84

12. Acer pseudoplatanus I, Aluminium, 65mm, 6g, £37

13. Vachellia sieberiana, Aluminium, 91mm, 4g, £38.20

14. Jacaranda mimosifolia II, Aluminium, 69mm, 32g, £58

15. Leucaena leucocephala I, Aluminium, 138mm, 8g, £62

16. Tamarindus indica, Aluminium, 127 mm, 118g, £83

17. Brachychiton rupestris I, Aluminium, 58 mm, 16g, £64.60

18. Jacaranda mimosifolia III, Bronze, 59mm, 69g, £86.42

19. Maerua triphylla, Bronze, 66mm, 16g, £63

20. Acer pseudoplatanus II, Bronze, 50mm, 20g, £62

21. Robinia pseudoacacia II, Bronze, 61mm, 17g, £64.80

22. Campsis radicans I, Bronze, 153mm, 156g, £104

23. Robinia pseudoacacia III, Bronze, 70mm, 26g, £62

24. Campsis radicans II, Bronze, 158mm, 151g, £102

25. Leucaena diversifolia I, Bronze, 94mm, 32g, £72

26. Brachychiton rupestris II, Bronze, 58mm, 64g, £81.70

27. Jacaranda mimosifolia IV, 70mm, 100g, £98

28. Jacaranda mimosifolia V, Pewter, 42mm, 34g, £41

29. Leucaena diversifolia II, Pewter, 101mm, 46g, £64.12

30. Jacaranda mimosifolia VI, Pewter, 73mm, 118g, £67.18

31. Leucaena diversifolia III, Pewter, 76mm, 22g, £38.70