Public art plans unveiled at Oxford North’s Canalside Park to celebrate moths as essential pollinators

Plans have been submitted to Oxford City Council for a striking new public artwork, ‘The Length of a Moment’, by internationally acclaimed artist Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg, which is to be located in Canalside Park, part of Oxford North, the new flagship innovation district.

Commissioned by Thomas White Oxford, the development company of St John’s College and master developer of Oxford North, the artwork is a key part of the district’s cultural scheme and demonstrates its commitment to place-making, innovation, and community engagement.

Canalside Park is the second of three public parks within Oxford North and totals 2.94 acres. It is designed to be an informal recreational space with native trees, climate-resistant shrubs, swale and seating to provide a welcoming green area between the new homes of Canalside Quarter, being built by The Hill Group, the Oxford Canal and Wolvercote for use by people who live in, work in and visit the area.

‘The Length of a Moment’ will comprise three bronze sculptures, each over two metres tall, which will emerge from the wildflower meadow of 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.

Using computer simulations of floral scent plumes disturbed by turbulence from wind and the moth’s flight, Ginsberg has captured this ephemeral moment, to freeze it in bronze. The sculptures' cloud-like, organic forms will blend gently into the park’s landscape, to draw attention to the often-overlooked role of moths as vital pollinators and invite the public to reflect on the more-than-human life experience.

The proposed artworks will be fabricated by Pangolin Editions, a foundry that works with leading contemporary artists. Based in Stroud, Gloucestershire, the foundry has a strong commitment to sustainability throughout all stages of its operations which works to mitigate its footprint wherever possible, which includes using renewable energy, transferring fuels from diesel to HVO in the foundry and in their vehicle fleet and recycling materials used in the fabrication process.

The artwork will contribute towards Oxford North’s Engage programme, which connects local communities with art, science, and nature. Through workshops, performances, and talks developed with partners such as IF Oxford Science & Ideas Festival, Modern Art Oxford, Fusion Arts and Creation Theatre, the programme will create opportunities for people of all ages to explore the ideas behind the work and connect with the artwork and the landscape.

Dr Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg, artist, said: “‘The Length of a Moment’ invites us to imagine how the world is experienced by other species. The sculptures reveal something invisible to us: the smell of a flower, shaped by the flight of a moth. Moths, though often unseen, play a vital role in our ecosystems as pollinators. By revealing a moment in their existence, I hope the sculptures will spark curiosity and empathy, and reflection on our shared environment. It’s exciting to be bringing this proposed work to Oxford North, where art, science, and community are woven together.”

Victoria Collett, development director, Thomas White Oxford, said: “Oxford North is not just about creating a new district of workplaces, homes and green spaces - it’s about nurturing culture and community. Public art plays a central role in our Engage programme, connecting people with ideas and with each other. ‘The Length of a Moment’ will be a unique and inspiring landmark within Canalside Park, symbolising how development can contribute positively to the life of the city and its people.”

Jordan Kaplan, senior art producer, Contemporary Art Society Consultancy, said: “This proposed commission reflects Oxford North’s ambition to integrate world-class public art into its new neighbourhood. Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg’s work resonates beautifully with the landscape of Canalside Park, bringing together science, ecology, and creativity. It demonstrates how thoughtful commissioning can enrich daily life, creating art that belongs to and inspires the community.”

Subject to planning approval, ‘The Length of a Moment’ will be installed in 2026. It will form part of Oxford North’s long-term cultural vision to deliver an ambitious public art programme that enhances the area for residents, visitors, and future generations.

‘Your planetary assembly’, by Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson which has been installed in Fallaize Park, Oxford North’s central two-acre public park, has recently been unveiled and is open.

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