York St John graduate is commissioned to ‘Just do it’
Nike has selected a York St John University graduate
Susanne Davies to create a site specific installation at the Nike
House of Innovation at Selfridges in London as part of the global
sportswear company’s Olympic events.
Nike is renowned for hosting a series of
events in the host city of each Olympic Games. During the
next six weeks, the public can visit the House of Innovation, where
Nike will be launching a brand new trainer called Flyknit that
claims to be the lightest ever made.
Susanne’s installation work is inspired by the
Flyknit manufacturing which produces the new trainer from one
thread. Commenting on her successful new commission, Susanne
said: “This has been an amazing privilege and experience, working
with the designers at Nike and Green Room Retail to create a space
within a space at the Ultra Lounge in Selfridges. Working
with the Flyknit product and the spools from which the product was
made, felt within the whole ethos of my practice. I was
really excited by the project. Working on this has given me a real
insight into working within a huge project, I am so pleased I was
able to be part of this.”
Susanne Davies graduated from York St John
University in 2010 and is now a successful installation artist
based in York. Her work responds to architectural spaces,
being both site responsive and site specific. The linear use of
material and the repetitive labour involved connect to notions of
the feminine, domestic and industrial histories both personal and
collective. Time, space and movement are integral throughout her
work, from the hours demanded by its production to that spent
navigating the space. Her work holds empathy for site and engages
the viewer in the re-ordering of space. The material substance of
her work makes up an atmosphere which embodies differing
properties, so it’s not about the work, but the conversation with
place.
Susanne is also currently working on a major
commission for the new Head Quarters for York City Council, which
opens this year in the brand new West Offices building at Station
Rise.
To find out more about Susanne please visit
http://www.susannedavies.com/
The Graduate Entrepreneurship Project is part
funded by the European Union Regional Development Fund 2007 –
2013
For further press information please contact Louise
McKenzie, PR & Communications Officer on T: 01904 876466 or
E: l.mckenzie@yorksj.ac.uk
