This book describes the making of an art work. In 2005 I was commissioned by Arts Council England to produce a piece of work for an international art and science conference called Terms of Engagement. The conference was held at York University, and was co-funded by the Centre for Novel Alternative Technologies. It was this connection that influenced the work that I produced.



Carbon, after hydrogen, helium, and oxygen is the fourth most common element in the universe. Carbon exists in many forms and carbon cycling is the common denominator in this work. My intial thinking was to make connection between energy and the sun, the production of oils within plants and the efficiency of leaves as opposed to solar panels. Part of the work is also concerned with our consumption of the products of carbon cycling.



The work is open ended, and designed to pose questions rather than give answers. The exhibition itself is continually evolving and new work is added each time it is shown. This book was made and exhibited as part of the third showing of 'fourth most common' at The Wedge Gallery, South Staffordshire College, Lichfield, 2011.