’Fragments of Memory’ by Bouke de Vries opens at UCL

Bouke de Vries and Fragments of Memory - Bouke de Vries standing with 'Fragments of Memory' at UCL © Richard Stonehouse - As we approach the second anniversary of the pandemic, artist Bouke de Vries has unveiled a new public artwork in the UCL Japanese Garden which celebrates the beauty of healing and the power of resilience. Inspired by UCL's rich history, and by UCL EPICentre's research on the resilience of communities and the built environment to natural hazards, 'Fragments of Memory' was commissioned by UCL's pioneering Public Art programme which allows artists to freely explore their practice in collaboration with UCL's world-class academics. The two-metre-high bronze sculpture's form is drawn from an original fractured 17th century Arita soy bottle, reflecting on the political, geographical and social fragmentation of Japan's later history, as well as offering echoes of contemporary global turbulence. The outline of Japan's islands is traced in the fracture lines of the piece. Bouke de Vries' practice questions the reverence of perfection, seeking instead to venerate the whole narrative of an object's life and craft, encompassing the trauma as well as the resilience. 'Fragments of Memory' reflects this philosophy, presenting a work that celebrates vulnerability and fragility as much as aesthetic beauty. At the start of the project, de Vries explored UCL Petrie Museum art collections and was introduced to the cross-disciplinary UCL research group EPICentre, who work at the forefront of earthquake zones around the globe.