About

Image Credit: Paul Cocksedge Studio, Coalescence in the Painted Hall, 2023 © Mark Cocksedge

Don’t miss your chance to experience Coalescence, the captivating installation by designer Paul Cocksedge, set against the backdrop of the majestic Painted Hall, Old Royal Naval College.

Made from over 2,500 pieces of coal – the amount consumed by a single 200W light bulb in a year – Coalescence will be suspended against the grand arch of the Painted Hall, where it will create an intricate play of shadow and sparkle that draws on the lustrous quality of the anthracite, a form of high-carbon coal. This installation promises to captivate viewers while inviting them to question our relationship with, and dependence on fossil fuels.

Also displayed in the adjacent Nelson Room, will be a never-before-seen artwork, 20 Trees, which subtly conveys a message about ecological balance, blending maths with environmental awareness. Each work stands as a reminder of the critical relationship between human actions and environmental stability, and together, they encourage visitors to contemplate their relationship with the natural world.

Each work stands as a reminder of the critical relationship between human actions and environmental stability, and together, they encourage visitors to contemplate our relationship with the natural world.

About Paul Cocksedge
Paul Cocksedge Studio was founded in 2004 by Paul Cocksedge and Joan Pinho. The key feature in the Studio’s work, in everything from product design to architectural projects, is a focus on simplicity and imagination to create people-centred designs.

The Studio has won national and international acclaim for its original and innovative design, underpinned by research into technology, materials, and manufacturing processes.

NOTE: Entry to see Coalescence also includes access to the Skittle Alley, and entry to all our tours, including 600 years of history tours, Blockbuster Film Tours and Painted Hall talks, as well as use of the multimedia guides.