The artworks are inspired by the passing of Darren Appiagyei’s Mum from fibroids in 2020. The 5 vessels represent each year since she has been gone. Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in the walls of the womb. According to the NHS, fibroids are common with around two and three women developing at least one fibroid at some point in their life and most often occur in women aged 30 to 50. Fibroids are also thought to develop more frequently in women of African and Caribbean origin. Honoring his mother and educating others on the illness is key to the artworks. 

Titled ‘Growth’, the collection explores texture, irregular and organic shapes, and scale. Each vessel gradually grows and develops, with the smallest vessel being 40cm in height and weighing 15kg and the largest vessel being 100cm in height and weighing 80kg. Fibroids is a growth which grows in an irregular shape; the artist explores overlapping and interlapping using techniques such as turning on a lathe to create shape and form, using a Dremel and Arbortech tool to create texture and decay, and a pyrography machine to burn the wood dot by dot.

The burning of the wood dot by dot is a form of mark making and is an interpretation of cell structure, of building and transition of tone as the natural grain of wood is visibly exposed with a variation of blue, green hues and creamy under tone showcased.  Sustainability is a key aspect to Darren Appiagyei’s practice, with the timber for the project sourced within Camden, the borough 1 Triton Square inhabits. The timbers sourced have naturally fallen, or been felled for the safety of the public. Growth is an opportunity to continue the legacy his mum left and educate visibly the impact of fibroids. 

Commissioned by 1 Triton Square by British Land and Royal London Asset Management. Curated by New Public in partnership with Cockpit Studios.