CONVERSATIONS
This is a body of work which is a timeless examination of humankind through the female form. I examine the perception of who we are as individuals and how we represent ourselves, how we appear, our constant internal monologue... and spirituality. Through the modelling of a torso where the gestures of hands, expressions on faces and the addition of colour, allows me to articulate a dialog that conveys this perseverance and questioning of our vulnerability as human beings.
Click on the images below to see the piece's details.
Goddess Nature
As part of this series, working with the female torso representing Gaia or Mother Nature as a Goddess in a very highly decorative way, I portray the feeling of sadness and melancholia when we contemplate the cycles of death and renewal every season of the year . I have introduced some aspects of Greek Mythology in which Nature saves and transforms into a tree the beautiful Daphne. I have also applied clear glazes and colourful metal lustre in this collection of figures, along with birds and plants to reference our connections to the natural world.
Ceramic and bronze torsos
The next pair of ceramic females figures in the Conversation collection inhabit a world of landscapes and cityscapes. Having taken the inspiration from G. De Chirico painting 'Metaphysical Town Square', I interpreted the contrasting vision of an area of Dublin. In this area, new modern buildings stand up opposite to the old neighbourhood under the iconic figures of mega industrial developments from the past and the present. This spectacular contrast has created a powerful city mark that I found interesting to capture in a female torso and succeeded in representing the divine aspect of what was left from the history of the old city which still survives underneath.
The landscape figure depicting olive fields was inspired by a painting from V. Van Gogh with the same name. The feeling of movement and fluent strokes of colour were very suitable interpretation to apply to a female form.
The Japanese Empress is a culmination of different works related to the female figure and its representation. At the same time it is an homage to the culture and aesthectic of women of Japan and in particular to the ancient ideals which emphasise natural appearance, emotional depth, subtle expression and connection to nature without falling into the archetype of conservative and traditional feminity. She is portrayed naked and fixed on top of a high pedestal with angular facets and imperfections that encorage us to appreciate that nothing is truly perfect or permanent.
Ceramic Abstraction Works
As a part of developing my sculptural work I always have been collecting impressions of organic forms as a source of inspiration. From the subtle curves of thee shape of animals in movement to the billowing waves of fields and clouds, part living creature and part esential Nature, my work often morphs components together giving life to something new.
Extracting pure form elements such as convex and concaves from figures and objects, in addition to varying the shape and movement I can combine these to create a starting point to develop a new series of works. Sometimes, without any specific defining point I combine a variety of different angles , curves and twisting planes .I model the form and smooth the surfaces, even appling colour through ceramic glazes to bring out particular tensions and transitions.
The sculptural objects that come out give space for the viewer to imagine their own worlds and find their own meaning.
EVOLVING SHAPE SERIES is a sample of this process of working and experimentation translated into bronze and the colour of patinas.
