Ab Initio - permanent installation for ‘One Island Many Vision’ exhibition and symposium - 2025

Ab Initio

The project was developed in partnership with Hannah Sofaer, Creative Director of PSQT. Hannah supported and guided the research process, helping to position Ab Initio within PSQT’s wider interdisciplinary programme focused on landscape regeneration. Through this framework, I was able to connect with quarrymen and other stone specialists, engage with local schools and learn about outdoor education programmes, and dialogued with members of the local community to better understand the history and heritage of Portland and Tout Quarry. Hannah also shared insight into the extensive work undertaken by multiple institutions to support biodiversity preservation, and introduced me to PSQT’s longstanding collaborator, naturalist Bob Ford, who contributed his knowledge of the flora and fauna and ecosystem present in the quarry. Bob will monitor the sculptural habitat in the coming years and will also lead educational talks as part of the biodiversity and regeneration programme. The final phase of the research focused on identifying a suitable location for the sculptural habitat, taking into account the regulations and stewardship requirements governing Tout Quarry Nature Reserve.

Ab Initio was constructed over a ten-day period by a team of five, using five tonnes of stone. The build brought together artistic research, traditional craft skills, and ecological knowledge within a shared, collaborative process.

The artwork is a sculptural habitat employing dry-stone walling not only as a construction method but also as a practice of landscape regeneration. Its curved lines capture sunlight from varying angles. Its amphitheater-like forms reflect and retain heat within the concave structures, creating a microclimate with slightly elevated temperatures that encourage plant growth. The elevation of the walls above the ground reduces wind speed, facilitating the dispersal and settling of wind-borne seeds. Cracks within the dry-stone walls provide niches for flora, insects, invertebrates, and small mammals. The thermal properties of the stones are particularly beneficial for small reptiles, offering warmth and shelter. The developments of the sculptural habitat will remain under observation and will be documented in the years to come.

Ab Initio was created for One Island – Many Visions, a Portland Sculpture & Quarry Trust collaboration with the Royal Society of Sculptors. The project involved 27 artist residencies and 18 months of research, culminating in an exhibition, symposium, and community events running from 6 September to 31 October 2025.

Members of the Royal Society of Sculptors worked collaboratively with PSQT’s Living Land Archive Project and the Portland community to support the regeneration of quarry landscapes.