Kate Daudy is a London-based visual artist recognised for her work exploring and re-evaluating the human experience in the context of the natural world. Known for her written interventions in public and private spaces, Daudy’s work is based on an ancient Chinese literati practice. Although disruptive, her work is full of optimism; current world circumstances seem dire, but the future remains in our hands. Previous highlights include exhibitions for Saatchi Gallery, South Bank Centre and St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Globally, Daudy has exhibited in Granada, Madrid, New York, Palermo, Paris and Jordan.
About the project
LOUIS THE SHEEP
“I created a toy chest in the form of a sheep. Opening the lid, one finds inside 199 sheep. 200 sheep in all; each piece represents a year since the birth of Mr. Vuitton.
The baby sheep of the toy chest are rooted in personal memories. I associate trunks with storage for fancy dress costumes and children’s toys. A further association with sheep is more abstract. I’ve been working this past year on a body of work on the subject of chaos with Russian physicist Kostya Novoselov. They marked numbers on a large flock of sheep to create an Alternative Random Number Generator. This has caused a stir in the world of mathematics. Their numbered sheep create more random numbers in one month than there are atoms in this universe. Calling to mind the image of the good shepherd, even musical associations with Bach, John Taverner and Handel, a sheep is a universal symbol of good intent.”
Trunk 006 was created with great ethical and sustainable consideration. The materials are natural and locally sourced, and in some cases, have been repurposed from other objects. For example, his legs are made from Sapele wood offcuts from a local kitchen fitter, while the ball joints have been upcycled from old camera tripods. These are entirely free from harmful or toxic chemicals and artificial preservatives. The work was designed to ensure that the manufacturing process was as efficient as possible. This included making sure that the project could be completed within south-east London, reducing the mileage (and therefore emissions) of individual components. Daudy employed contractors from the local community. For instance, the aluminium sections of the sheep were waterjet cut by a small firm nearby who used digital tools to keep waste to a minimum. The small sheep inside the trunk wear coats of British wool which was carded and combed by a small community in Sussex. The work can also be recycled or disposed of sustainably; the upcycled wood is finished using natural oils and preserves. The metal elements are up to 95% recyclable.
360 view
