Mise en Scene

Artists: Anne and Patrick Poirier
Location: Hay Hill, Norwich

Launched in 2007 ‘Mise en Scene’ by Anne and Patrick Poirier is an homage to Sir Thomas Browne, a famous physician and philosopher who had connections with Norwich.

The work is made up of what may appear at first glance to be a random collection of pieces, but the pattern formed by the marble and granite sculptures has been carefully conceived. The centre pieces, the marble brain and eye, sculpted in a very classical fashion, refer to Sir Thomas’s approach to philosophy, religion and science. Around these sculptures are seats, benches, tables and stools made of granite.

Hay Hill as a marketplace has a long history of being a meeting place for discussion and debate and it was the Poiriers' intention to continue this tradition by creating a ‘room’; a meeting place where people can use the pieces as furniture and also to develop its use as a cultural space by encouraging performances, street theatre and busking.

The stones for the sculptures come from Pietrasanta, a small town in Tuscany, where Anne and Patrick worked with the local Italian craftsmen to select the highest quality stone.

During the development of 'Mise en Scene', Commissions East and Norwich City Council commissioned 'Flow', a series of temporary projects by Norfolk based artists, highlighting the rich history of Norwich's market places. For more information follow the link on the right.

‘Mise en Scene’ was commissioned by Norwich City Council and developed by Commissions East in association with Norwich School of Art and Design, Norwich Gallery and Norwich Castle Museum, with funding from Arts Council England, East and Norfolk County Council.