Brendan Jamison MRBS ARUA FRSA (b.1979)

Doorway No. 10 Downing Street

Sugar cube sculpture, size in perspex box 51cm high x 25.5cm deep x 30cm wide (20 x 10 x 12'')

Provenance: The Eamonn...

Brendan Jamison MRBS ARUA FRSA (b.1979)

Doorway No. 10 Downing Street

Sugar cube sculpture, size in perspex box 51cm high x 25.5cm deep x 30cm wide (20 x 10 x 12'')

Provenance: The Eamonn Mallie Collection

 

Of Brendan Jamison and his Downing Street sculpture: The BBC wrote the following: 'Northern Ireland artist Brendan Jamison has claimed a special niche in the UK corridors of power.'

 

The craftsman is a cubist of a different kind - he is known for carving thousands of sugar lumps into intricate buildings.

 

He has been chosen for an exhibition inside 10 Downing Street. Visiting presidents and prime ministers from across the world will be able to see the iconic black door they have just stepped through, carved in sugar. Jamison, used 5,117 sugar cubes and took two months to complete his Downing Street door. Commenting on his sugar creations, Jamison revealed in 2003 he pioneered a technique of carving sugar cubes into intricate shapes. These are glued together with a special adhesive. His two-fold method of carving blocks of sugar and creating a permanent building has caught the imagination across the world resulting in his being a guest of governments around the world capturing sugar images of many of their most celebrated buildings. It was 'Ten Downing Street' however which catapulted Jamison onto the world stage with TV channels and international newspapers becoming very excited about this revolutionary method of making sculptures. When I saw 'Ten Downing Street' in Jamison's studio I asked him to give me 'first option' on the work given that I had been through the famous door Number 10 and stood outside it several times in my professional capacity. Jamison was agreeable to prioritise me but history militated against me. Word reached Downing Street about the sugar sculptured door and the young artist was invited to include it in a mixed exhibition. Jamison faced a dilemma. Downing Street sought to purchase the work. The artist consulted me, acting honourably in light of his commitment to me to get first call on 'Number Ten'.

I readily gave way and the sculpture had a new permanent home in the hallway in 10 Downing Street. Some time later Jamison called me to inform me he had completed a second version of

10 Downing Street going into the Royal Ulster Academy Exhibition. Once the doors opened I rushed into the Museum and managed to get a red sticker on the sculpture.

 

It is in good company across the globe with sugar sculptures in existence now of The Great Wall of China, Tate Modern in London, Helen's Tower Clandeboye, commissions by Vogue in Milan and by The Centre Pompidou, in Paris.

 

Eamonn Mallie

 

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