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Green Routes

Demostaph – Alberto Duman

The Artwork

How to get there

Installation and construction

Image archive

 

The Artwork

Demostaph, a plinth standing on the artificially created Soar Island mound, was inspired by the historic and physical geography of the site, including the Leicester codex by Leonardo da Vinci and the idea of the mound as a summit where people come together to share ideas about their common future. The use of recycled materials is also a metaphor for the change of use of the site.

The name Demostaph was created by inserting the root demos- (democratic) onto cenotaph (monument) thereby suggesting a form of memorialising of democracy.

Demostaph

"stands for an architectural, half–celebratory object, which attempts to analyze, criticize and at the same time spring forward ideas of democracy and representation, and their manifestation in socially shared spaces."

Alberto Duman

Dimension/Materials:
The plinth is 2.5m high, 3.5m long and 2.5 m wide. Constructed from precast concrete slabs using reclaimed aggregate and re-enforced concrete, kee-clamp with mesh infill railings. Accessed through 12 steps cut from recycled oak railway sleepers.

The artificial raised Soar Island mound is created from site infill.

Location:
On Soar Island, off Soar Lane and Sanvey Gate. It is next to Evans Weir at the intersection of the tow path National Cycle Way Route 6 and the Forest Way cycle way. It is a prominent land mark, especially when viewed from the south.  The site was the location of a former mill and railway interchange and has a distinctive concrete works adjacent which once housed cattle pens.

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demostaph