York church welcomes computer art installation

A tower of computer components pour from the roof

A 21st century flood will engulf the ancient space of York St Mary's this summer as part of a new contemporary art installation.

The flood is a tower of computer components which pour from the roof of the medieval church, filling the nave with a brightly coloured pool of metal and wire.

The work, by Susan Stockwell, draws on themes such as communication, consumerism and capitalism. It creates a thought provoking and visually stimulating installation which complements the stone architecture of the ancient church.

Susan Stockwell said: "Highlighting the components beauty, the piece relates to the architectural form of the church, seeping into the space and surrounding us with their toxic exquisiteness.

"The computers have been dissected, their innards exposed, revealing the underbelly of the machines we take for granted, an autopsy of our consumer society."

The piece is made from four tonnes of computer power supplies which have been sourced from Secure IT Recycling in Cheshire, where they will be returned to be recycled in November.

These components have been used as building blocks to create the large tower that dominates the church. The blocks will then flow from the tower to create the "flood" of computer components, filling the nave of the church.

Flood is at York St Mary's until October 31.

York St Mary's