'Freeze' Desk, 2015

In his Freeze series, Paul Cocksedge explores the dynamic interplay between metal and nature, focusing particularly on the transformative effects of freezing temperatures on metal's physical properties. In the present desk, as with the other pieces in the series, Cocksedge constructs the form by assembling contracted metals into precisely cut slots within slabs of metal slabs at ambient temperature. As both elements gradually equalize in temperature, they lock seamlessly into place. The result is a display of balanced precision exemplifying the harmony between engineering and artistry. The present desk is a unique piece and representative of the artist's five years refining and perfecting this technique with craftsmen in Liverpool. As Cocksedge noted himself about the series, "These pieces are really about the making. Not everything should be mass produced."