Seizure

Image rights: Artangel/the artist.

In 2008 Roger Hiorns, commissioned by Artangel and the Jerwood Charitable Foundation, transformed an empty council flat in Southwark, London, into a sparkling blue environment of copper sulphate crystals. Seizure was created using 75,000 litres of liquid copper sulphate, which was pumped into the former council flat to create a strangely beautiful and somewhat menacing crystalline growth on the walls, floor, ceiling and bath of the abandoned dwelling. – York Sculpture Park

First opened to the public from 02 September 2008 until November 2008, Seizure was reopened in 2009 and ran until 3rd January 2010 following the delay of the demolition and redevelopment of the site by Southwark Council. This project was supported by Arts Council England, Artangel International Circle, Special Angels and The Company of Angels.

The installation was acquired by Arts Council England in 2010 in anticipation of the demolishion of the housing block and work contained there-in. This acquision was made possible by the artist, Artangel, the Jerwood Charitable Foundation, the Art Fund and The Henry Moore Foundation.

The work, weighing over 31 tonnes, was successfully extracted from the property in February 2011, following meticulous planning which saw one wall of the flat removed before the whole structure was pulled out of the building using hydraulic jacks and craned onto the back of a low loader.

Seizure was then moved and re-installed for display at Yorkshire Sculpture Park. The work is on a ten-year loan from the Arts Council Collection, housed in a purpose-built structure designed by Adam Khan Architects