Cornelia Parker, ‘Neither from nor towards’ (1992) Bricks and wire. Arts Council Collection, Southbank Centre, London. Copyright the artist.

This artwork was chosen by women of Colchester to feature in Firstsite’s Arts Council Collection National Partners Programme Exhibition, ‘Tell me the story of all these things’.

Reflecting upon the work, members of the group commented:

“I really love that the bricks themselves came from houses that fell into the sea, were smoothed over time and then reused. So I love that principle of making something beautiful again and purposeful”

“It’s basically about strength and the strength of a stone. And the history that at the end, you know, that what it’s been through?”

Cornelia Parker is best known for her ‘exploded’ installations, of which this piece is one. ‘Neither from nor towards’ features bricks from a row of houses that fell off the white cliffs of Dover.

Found by the artist on a remote shoreline between Folkestone and Dover, the bricks have been shaped by the crashing waves over many years. Parker was fascinated by the drama, describing the process as a ‘perfect cartoon death’.

This artwork is featured as part of the exhibition, ‘Tell be the story of all these things‘. The exhibition title is inspired by Rehana Zaman’s 2016 film Tell me the story of all these things (included in the exhibition), which revolves around a conversation between the artist and her two sisters as they prepare a meal. Find out more about the exhibition.