Photos: James Mulkeen
Never Eat Soggy Wheat (2020)
Never Eat Soggy Wheat was a temporary site-specific wind bell inspired by Lincolnshire’s wildlife, agriculture and a farmer’s heightened awareness of weather.
The work draws on the collection at the Rural Life Museum, re-appropriating the materials and construction methods of utilitarian agricultural machinery from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
A farmer’s ability to read subtle changes in wind and weather—once essential to crop survival—forms a key catalyst for the work, reflected in local sayings that signal approaching storms. This sensitivity is translated into a colour-coded sail that catches wind from all directions, making invisible forces visible while acting as a navigational marker for the museum grounds.
The sail’s form and colour references a kestrel hovering above farmland, a natural ally to farmers, while the roundel motif nods to Lincolnshire Royal Air Force heritage. Hidden within the base are singing bowls that sound as the wind shifts, encouraging a mindful connection to landscape, weather and movement.
Location: Normanby Hall and Country Park
Materials: Galvanised mild steel, printed Dibond, 3D-printed components, internal mechanism, singing bowls