​​Architectures of Infestation 

by Abingdon and Witney College 

Architectures of Infestation is a striking new exhibition in the Turrill Sculpture Garden, showcasing large‑scale sculptural works by Creative Futures (Level 1) and Foundation Art & Design students from Abingdon & Witney College. 

Bringing together oversized insect sculptures and hand‑built ceramic watchtowers, the exhibition explores themes of surveillance, scale, and the uneasy relationship between humans, creatures, and the structures we build. 

Level 1 students took inspiration from bugs and specimens at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, enlarging tiny organisms into bold, three‑foot‑long forms using wire, modroc, plaster, and paint. These monumental insects playfully challenge our perceptions of the creepy‑crawly world. 

Foundation students created ceramic watchtowers inspired by the panopticon, examining how architecture can control, observe, and influence behaviour. Their towers range from architectural to abstract, each acting as a quiet sentinel within the garden. 

Together, these works transform the garden into a lively and thought‑provoking landscape—where creatures seem to roam and watchtowers hold their ground. Architectures of Infestation invites visitors to explore, imagine, and rethink the boundaries between the natural and the built. 

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