Just another point of view

Russell's previous work at Ombra:Selects, ("Viewpoint"), which solely used Formica hpl, intrusively jutted 3 meters out of OMBRA's restaurant window hovering over Regents Canal, East London. This paved the way for his most recent large scale outdoor sculpture "Just Another Point Of View", part of Ombra:Champions and London Design Festival. "Just Another Point Of View" is perched on the junction of Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Regents Canal and Vyner Street (famed for it's cutting edge art galleries) and towers 5m above street level, and 8m above the canal path which leads directly to the very fashionable Broadway Market, and comfortably seats 2 people. As with much of Russell's sculptures the viewer is enticed to physically participate in the work and see the world from a completely new viewpoint. Clad in yellow and black chevrons, (echoing the surrounding urban furniture) "Just Another Point Of View" declares its existence but also almost acts as camouflage amongst the incessant noise and visual information. The structure suggests the solitude of look out towers, but also the romance of beach huts and the follies of our great garden designers; a place for quiet contemplation and watch the world busy by. Ascending the very near vertical stairs you get a glimpse of the rich colour palette about to engulf you. Each and every facet is clad in high gloss Formica with every adjacent plane different to the next. The seat and two tables sculpturally jut out from the walls. Russell cleverly picks out the tones of the created shadows in different colours. The colours play and reflect each other and seem to constantly change their colour-mixing as though the colours were fluid. It is this 'mixing',' which Russell enhances with the irregular facets, protruding planes and shadow details that always develop 'painterly' surprises and help him create unexpected and exciting results, which mislead your eyes into believing one colour surface is actually a completely different colour. Horizontal, slot like windows, allow you to voyeuristically peek down the bustling Regents Canal whilst surveying the people below you. "Just Another Point Of View" allows you to do just that, climb to another point of view, and reassess the world around you. Just Another Point Of View was generously sponsored by Formica