Green light for new Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg public art sculptures in Oxford North’s Canalside Park

Oxford City Council has granted permission to Thomas White Oxford, the development company of St John’s College, for a new public artwork commission titled ‘The Length of a Moment’ which will celebrate moths as essential pollinators created by the internationally renowned artist Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg.

The piece will be situated in Canalside Park, which is part of Oxford North, the city’s flagship new innovation district. Canalside Park totals 2.94 acres and has been designed to be a welcoming green space between the new homes of Canalside Quarter which are being built by The Hill Group and the Oxford Canal and Wolvercote community. It includes native trees, climate-resistant shrubs, a swale and seating.

‘The Length of a Moment’ will feature three bronze sculptures, each over two metres in height, which will rise from the wildflower meadow at Canalside Park. Inspired by the site’s biodiversity and ecology strategy, each sculpture will represent the invisible movements of a moth’s search for a flower to feed from and pollinate, via the scent it releases.

Through computer simulations of floral scent plumes affected by wind turbulence and moth flight, Ginsberg has immortalised this fleeting moment in bronze. The sculptures' cloud-like, organic shapes will harmoniously integrate into the park’s surroundings, to highlight the importance of moths as essential pollinators and encourage the public to contemplate the tapestry of life beyond human experience.

The artworks will be produced by Pangolin Editions, a foundry renowned for collaborating with prominent contemporary artists.

Located in Stroud, Gloucestershire, the foundry is deeply committed to sustainability across all aspects of its operations. This dedication includes measures to reduce its environmental impact, such as utilising renewable energy sources, transitioning from diesel to HVO fuels for both the foundry and its vehicle fleet, and recycling materials involved in the fabrication process.

The artwork will contribute towards Oxford North’s Engage programme, designed to connect local communities with the realms of art, science, and nature. By offering workshops, performances, and discussions in collaboration with partners such as the IF Oxford Science & Ideas Festival, Modern Art Oxford, Fusion Arts, and Creation Theatre, the programme aims to provide opportunities for individuals of all ages to delve into the concepts behind the artwork and foster connections with both the art itself and the surrounding landscape.

Dr Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg, artist, said: “‘The Length of a Moment’ encourages us to envision how other species perceive the world. The sculptures expose something that remains beyond our senses: the fragrance of a flower sculpted by the movement of a moth. Moths, while often overlooked, are essential as pollinators within our ecosystems.

“By capturing a moment from their lives, these sculptures should inspire curiosity and empathy, provoking thought about our interconnected environment. It is thrilling to design this work for Oxford North, where the client’s leadership has been steadfast in this being a place where art, science, and community intersect.”

A spokesperson for Pangolin Editions said: “We are honoured to be working with Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg, whose vision and reputation as a world-leading artist continue to expand the possibilities of contemporary sculpture. Collaborating with an artist of her calibre is always an inspiring process, and bringing her ideas into bronze here at Pangolin Editions is a privilege for our entire team.

“This commission also reflects what matters most to us as a foundry: championing ambitious artistic practice, preserving traditional craftsmanship, and pushing the technical boundaries of bronze casting. The works for Oxford North allow us to draw on decades of expertise - from meticulous mould-making to hand-finished patination - to realise artworks that will stand proudly in a new cultural landscape. We are proud that our skills, rooted in Stroud, can help shape pieces that embody both enduring material quality and the spirit of innovation at the heart of this project.”

Victoria Collett, development director, Thomas White Oxford, said: “Oxford North is more than the investment into and establishment of a new place for the City comprising workplaces, homes, and green spaces; it is about fostering culture and community. Public art is essential to our Engage programme as it bridges connections between people and ideas. We are thrilled that Oxford City Council has approved our plans for ‘The Length of a Moment’. This will serve as a unique and inspiring landmark in Canalside Park for everyone to enjoy, illustrating how development can positively impact the city and its residents.

“I’d also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Oxford North Public Art Steering Group which is led by CAS Consultancy, and with our partner institutions IF Oxford Science & Ideas Festival, Modern Art Oxford, Creation Theatre and Fusion Arts, and most importantly to the local residents and young people whose voices have helped shape the vision. Their commitment, insight, and passion for inclusive, community-focused public art have been absolutely vital in enabling this commission.”

Jordan Kaplan, senior art producer, Contemporary Art Society Consultancy which advises the project on its public art strategy, added: “It is great to hear that this innovative design has received approval. The work underscores Oxford North’s vision of incorporating world-class public art within its new community, enhancing everyday life and producing artworks that resonate with and inspire local residents, visitors and future generations. Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg’s proposal has been developed for the Canalside Park landscape, and the result is a merging of science, technology, ecology, and fine art - we are delighted!”

Ginsberg was recently honoured with the most prestigious design accolade in the UK, as a Royal Designer for Industry, awarded annually by the Royal Society of Arts to designers who have “achieved sustained design excellence, work of aesthetic value and significant benefit to society”.

Ginsberg’s sculptures will join ‘Your planetary assembly’ at Oxford North, by Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson, which is a vibrant, immersive constellation of eight coloured glass spheres that transforms sunlight into shifting patterns of light and shadow, has been installed in Fallaize Park, the district’s central two-acre public park. This installation was unveiled by the artist and opened to the public in October 2025.

Thomas White Oxford is advised by Fletcher Priest Architects, Townshend Landscape Architects, Contemporary Art Society Consultancy, Savills, Stantec and BSG Ecology.