The finished installation set in bound gravel
Purbeck stone monument in celebration of Marwell Zoo's founder, Dr John Knowles
“IF A MAN DOES NOT KEEP PACE WITH HIS COMPANIONS, PERHAPS IT IS BECAUSE HE HEARS A DIFFERENT DRUMMER. LET HIM STEP TO THE MUSIC HE HEARS HOWEVER MEASURED OR FAR AWAY”
These large quarried blocks of limestone wear their zoological connection openly, containing numerous fossilised shells, ammonites and urchins. A simple letterform was designed to be carved efficiently into this hard material known as Purbeck Bluebit. The Grevy’s Zebra and Reticulated Giraffe patterns were carved into the rough, riven surfaces with angle grinders and pneumatic chisels, a process which was particularly effective.
My long time assistant Stuart Buckle and I began work on the stones in April 2022.
Detail of inscription
Zebra pattern
Stuart hand-carving with pneumatic chisel