Lucite International – The Myeloma UK Garden has received a Silver Gilt medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2018. The garden explores the juxtaposition between contemporary sculptures and naturalistic planting, featuring a gigantic Perspex® acrylic sculpture.
The garden is designed by John Everiss and Francesca Murrell with the objective of increasing awareness for Myeloma, an incurable form of blood cancer, and sending out a positive message. The Perspex® acrylic sculpture at the heart of the garden is modelled on Gemma Pearce from Helensburgh, daughter of Peter King, whose wife and brother both passed away in 2016 from the cancer.
The giant sculpture weighs a colossal seven tonnes, stands 12 feet high and is constructed using layers of Arctic blue Perspex® acrylic. John Everiss and his team used cutting edge technology to create the sculpture, scanning Gemma’s head, shoulders and hands to generate a very detailed 3D digital image. They then used this data to create the sculpture’s multiple layers of Perspex® acrylic, and the design and construction company Stage One assembled it.
Gemma’s right hand appears to be blowing seeds and plants onto the fertile soil below, representing new treatment and as a sign of hope and growth. The garden was designed to raise the profile of myeloma with its themes of hope and care, which are both moving and inspiring visitors.
Rosemarie Finley, Chief Executive of Myeloma UK, says: “The Myeloma UK Garden at the 2018 RHS Chelsea Flower Show was designed to raise the profile of myeloma, the work we are doing as an organisation to help improve the lives of those affected by a myeloma diagnosis and the journey towards finding a cure.
John’s creative concept expertly tells the story of myeloma and is both educating and enthralling visitors. The Silver medal is truly well deserved and will help attract even more people to The Myeloma UK Garden.”
John Everiss, designer of The Myeloma UK Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2018, says: “I’m absolutely delighted that I’ve won a Silver medal for The Myeloma UK Garden! I really hope that this garden, the story behind it and the platform of one of the world’s most prestigious flower shows helps raises awareness of myeloma and encourages people to support the charity and its research into finding a cure.
I want to say a huge thank you to our sponsors and also to our suppliers who really got on board with this project and helped us to fund it and bring it to life. And thanks of course goes to my planting designer Francesca Murrell as well as Peter King, Gemma Peace and everyone at Myeloma UK for supporting this project and allowing me to create such a big and bold garden for them!”
Myeloma UK have produced a series of videos documenting the build of their award winning garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. See how designer John Everiss and Stage One manage the assembly of over seven tonnes of fabricated Perspex® acrylic on site.