"The minute a space stops being permeable, you can’t explore it, and if you can’t explore you can’t get lost, and if you can’t get lost, there’s no longer a reason for me to work."



Growing up in the Scottish Highlands, Michael Pinsky was fascinated by exploring natural open spaces, and entering into outdoor environments where he could get completely lost. Through his experience of major cities such as Edinburgh and London, he began to notice the different dynamic between open spaces surrounded by urban spaces, such as inner city parks, and urban spaces surrounded by open space, such as towns and cities. For Michael, his interest was not so much about spaces being urban or rural, but more if they were managed or unmanaged.



Having explored the varied landscape of Gunpowder Park during previous visits in 2006, Michael has begun to re-look at the new urban developments on the north and west borders of the Park, and the relationships created between these settlements and the natural open space in front of them. For Bright Sparks, Michael has continued his research into the urban perimeter of Gunpowder Park, and the friction experienced where urban and natural elements meet. He has played with notions of order and disorder which has has presented through a story book: Fables in Open Space.



The production of this book was made possible through the support of the Bright Sparks scheme hosted by Gunpowder Park. Bright Sparks is a unique funding scheme which supports arts and design led research and development projects which explore the physical and social aspects of public open space in both urban and rural contexts.