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Since 17th July and for the next six weeks, Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge has been transformed by a strange wooden life-form which has unwittingly found itself suspended in the window, merging with models clad in the new range of pre-Fall  formal wear available in the store.  Spirit of the Forest is born in Knightsbridge, and grows up through the windows as it adjusts to its new and strange surroundings and interacts with the models with increasing intensity. Where has it come from? What does it want? Is it friendly? In a final gesture of love, it shows us its heart on the corner of Sloane Square before its rebirth.

UK designer and wood-bender extraordinaire Charlie Whinney has brought his individual vision to Harvey Nichols in a giant 50 metre long steam-bent Oak and Ash sculpture, incorporating real branches, roots and tree-stump.

The sculpture totals over 450 metres of unique steam-bent wood, which twist, curve, coil and dance their way through the whole length of the store including over the main entrance, in a bizarre series of surreal scenes. A CurlyShade from Charlie’s range can be found hidden in the middle of the scene, and the mannequins flaunt hair and headdresses made from steam-bent wooden coils.

The scheme was based on an original concept by Charlie Whinney, and developed by the Harvey Nichols in-house design team led by award-winning Laura O’Connor (creative director), and Charlie Whinney Associates (www.charliewhinney.com), with original artwork by designer/illustrator Sarah Hoyle (www.sarahhoyle.com)

The sculpture is another one-of-a-kind creation that pushes this type of steam-bending process of eco-friendly green wood further than ever before, and surely establishes Charlie Whinney as one of the world leaders of using wood in innovative ways. It also augments Harvey Nichols’ reputation for exuberant and challenging window displays.

Following its six weeks in London, the sculpture will feature in all of the six UK and Ireland Harvey Nichols stores over the next year – Bristol, Dublin, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds and Manchester.

www.harveynichols.com