HISTORY

In 2018 I was awarded a research grant from the Winston Churchill memorial trust. Having just completed three years studying metal work and forging at the National School of Blacksmithing, the research was titled ‘Rediscovering lost techniques for sculptural use’ . ( PLEASE SEE - https://media.churchillfellowship.org/documents/Surridge_K_Report_2018_Final.pdf) 

In particular I was interested in studying ancient methods of iron extraction from ore, essentially learning how to producing my own steel, to then use in my sculptures. Ideas around controlling processes from start to finish and reflecting on the different tooling that helps us, are key areas in my practice. 

I travelled to Japan for two months and worked with metal working masters, following the process of gathering ore, then making charcoal and finally smelting it in to high quality steel in Tataras. 

The project next took me to Ireland to work with archaeologists and metallurgists studying bog ore, and at the European style furnace early people used. I also got involved in a group running Bronze age furnaces and casting liquid metal in to dung moulds.

I used these experiences to inform new sculptures, in particular I became interested in the amount of heat created by the process and so I built a furnace that could smelt iron ore and use the residual heat to cook, a very Heath Robinson-esk  machine that was both functional and sculptural.

This incredible experience has informed and changed my practice immeasurably, my work thrives of collaborative research and meeting new people in the process.  I'm now looking to continue this research on metal extraction but in a current day situation. Transporting my self through time from the Iron Age to 2022 I now want to start researching the mining of metals from waste electronics, or e-waste.