Building Beyond Ithaka

Beyond Ithaka is a commission piece in honour of NHS Organ Donation and is located in Trentham Gardens. The purpose of the sculpture is to: Promote awareness of organ donation, Help to start conversations that will breakdown the taboos around the subject Provide a peaceful place of contemplation and reflection away from graves and hospitals. I rarely take on commission work, but when Trentham asked me if I’d consider teaming up with them and the NHS in the middle of a pandemic, there was no hesitation. The stone ball and plinth at the base of the sculpture are from the original Trentham hall (demolished decades ago). The basic concept of the design is something beautiful growing from the remnants of the past in the heart shape of the NHS organ donation logo. There are layers and layers of symbolism build into every aspect of the design and the more you look, the more you will find. The title of the piece is “Beyond Ithaka” Ithaka is a Greek island. In Greek mytholo