September 2024
Queens Gardens is steeping in maritime history. As part of its future, the artwork has been inspired by objects associated with maritime heritage and the artists have worked closely with the Hull Maritime Museum to utilise exhibits and artefacts in the design development of their commissions.
The “scrimshaw steps” design, by Katayoun Dowlatshahi, will form part of a new amphitheatre style seating area along the edge of the gardens next to Guildhall Road, and is derived directly from original scrimshaw carvings held within the Maritime Museum collection.
“Scrimshaw” is a folk art rooted in the whaling trade. Designs were carved into whale teeth or bone by sailors, and soot or another pigment was rubbed into the carving to create the design. Dowlatshahi proposes to collage and scale up fragments of images from items within the scrimshaw collection across sections of the steps.
A visit to Hardscape, a specialist in hard landscaping material in Bolton saw the scrimshaw artwork being added to the crystal black granite steps.
The steps are first polished, then stencilled with a rubber material that is resistant to sand blasting.
Once the negative sections of the stencil are removed the units are then sandblasted by hand to blast away the background.
When the sandblasting is finished the remaining stencil sections are removed to reveal the remaining pattern in the polished finish which stands proud of the background.
