It will calm you*

*The title of this work is a quote from 19th century British Prime Minister William Gladstone describing the effects of tea.​​​​

 

2024

Stained glass layers

 

A stained glass panel for the Oriental Club's dining room. 

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This is what the panel means:

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At first glance this panel shows brightly coloured circles floating on a sea of grey-green. A printed map (from 1824) appears behind. The circles in the glass panel are influenced by the décor of Stratford House and Adam’s style architecture. Look up at the dining room ceiling where they orbit overhead… they continue to do so in this work. The circles are ornamented with botanical illustrations of the flowers / plants that are used for brewing tea; camellia sinensis (tea plant), rose, red bush, camomile, St Helena’s native tea plant. These illustrations also echo the delicate floral decorations adorning the dining room and indeed much of Stratford House. Each circle falls over a place associated with the Oriental Club. In fact, the circles land on all the places mentioned by Major General Sir John Malcolm in 1824 on its foundation: ‘Asia, St. Helena, Egypt, the Cape of Good Hope, Mauritius, Constantinople’. The colours complement some of the furnishings (grey-green chairs) and interior design (gold and red walls). The grey-green also suggests the ocean and thus the club’s international fold. Indeed, friendship is depicted through the common, global love of tea which connects the diversity of Oriental Club members and is celebrated in the panel. Indian elephants are hidden around the work. Within the largest sun-like circle hovering over Asia, a ghosted image of an elephant’s trunk follows the lines of longitude (the vertical lead line). It curls inwards, nuzzling the tea plant. Members looking closely will find other elephants... these familiar creatures are silhouetted on the map below; their outlines inspired by Indian miniature paintings. But the panel also resolves to provide members with a visual resting place: This handsome dining room is occupied with furniture, intricate floral wallpaper, stunning architectural embellishments, paintings on ceilings and walls. Therefore, the panel should provide a visible sense of tranquillity through its overall simplicity: “It will calm you.”

 

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