Casting directly from real objects and materials, I've been revisiting the ancient technique of bas-relief
A few roses
Banquet
Baroque Cocktail Party
Bas-Relief Collection
The
technique of low-relief sculpture goes back to classical times and has been
explored by many sculptors in the intervening centuries. As with my Plaster
Busts Collection, I’m interested in looking at traditional styles and
techniques, some of which have become unfashionable, and re-interpreting them
for the 21st century.
The
V&A Sculpture Court holds many examples of low-relief sculpture in which
artists cleverly created the illusion of space and perspective through the very
shallow depth of their wall friezes. In
my bas-reliefs I’ve created the illusion of reality by an entirely different means
i.e. by casting directly from real
objects and materials, a technique I’ve developed through all my sculptural
plaster work.
For
‘Baroque Cocktail Party’ I first created a set of glasses from paper, card and
cut glass beads, referencing the antique glass collection at the V&A. I
made a silicone mould of these and from this the final plaster cast.
For
‘Banquet’ I looked at the mesmerising still life paintings of the 17th
and 18th centuries in which a plethora of objects are piled together
in exotic compositions and rendered with extreme realism. The initial sculpture
I made comprised an arrangement of made up objects – the fruit bowl was
constructed from card and stick-on ‘jewels’- along with real shells, plastic
grapes and a silk tassel.
For
‘A few Roses’ my composition was created by casting from vintage ceramic roses
in a ‘cut glass’ vase of creased and folded paper.
EXHIBITION NEWS
I'm currently exhibiting my plaster busts at Harewood House, Yorkshire
I'm currently exhibiting my plaster busts at Harewood House, Yorkshire
