I was commissioned by Commissions East to create an artwork for the dramatic 10-metre-high foyer of the new Jerwood Dance House, a landmark building on the regenerated Ipswich waterfront. As a venue dedicated to bringing world-class dance to the East of England—hosting leading choreographers, companies, and an extensive programme of dance classes—the space demanded a work that reflected the elegance, movement, and discipline of the art form it celebrates.

Using 36 handmade Russian ballet tutus, the resulting chandelier takes the form of an elongated flower head rising through the height of the atrium. Each tutu becomes a distinct blooming element, its teal fabric opening outward like delicate, translucent petals. Suspended in space, the tutus evoke both the precision of dance costumes and the organic softness of a flower’s anatomy, merging the language of performance with the natural world.

The chandelier is composed of twelve tiers, each holding three tutus arranged with architectural precision. The colour palette transitions gradually from a deep strawberry hue at the base to a pale champagne shade at the top, creating a gentle chromatic ascent that echoes the verticality of the space. The shift in colour suggests growth, elevation, and the upward momentum of dance itself.

Hovering between sculpture and performance relic, the work captures the poise, fragility, and dynamism associated with ballet. It transforms the foyer into a stage of suspended movement—an invitation for visitors to look upward and experience the space with the same sense of wonder and anticipation that precedes a performance.