Vein

Vein celebrates the mysterious properties of crystal quartz: an abundant mineral that grows in the dark, yet holds, reflects and amplifies rays of light within its internal chambers.

For thousands of years, crystals have held a special place in the human psyche. We marvel at the internal structures that capture the playful nature of light; we respect their plantlike nature – crystals grow continuously, undisturbed and underground.

This sculpture is a redevelopment of an earlier work based on crystal caves, presented by the artists at Vivid in 2013. The 2016 artwork presents a ‘vein’ of giant crystalline forms: a multifaceted seam of light that runs along the side of a building, reframing our perceptions of the city landscape.

The three-dimensional crystals have been modelled and printed in a transparent biodegradable plastic. Once printed, each one has been modified by hand to create a unique structure.