A compass floats in a disc of sandblasted Perspex, like a slither of ice. The centre of the compass remains clear so that it can be held up against a particular view, place or image. Each disc has the title of the work etched in pale yellow letters, with a blue ellipse at the rear, suggestive of the map-like colours that this object is closely related to. There the relationship ends as any other information, such as numbers and directions have been eliminated so that its prime function is kept to the indication of North. The compass creates a dialogue between imaginary places and precise locations. The various owners of the works will be geographically dispersed; the needle of every compass will be uniformly trained to the location of magnetic north, creating an invisible bridge between all its recipients. As an object it reminds us of the relativity of ‘The Idea of North’; as a fixed site and as an ultimate destination.

Multiplication, The British Council 2001 text © The Multiple Store