CHARNEL HOUSE .... 2

2005



Grey Granite - China
Limestone - Ireland
Marble - Italy
Pine Wood - Canada
Lead

0.77m x 0.23m x 1.65m high
Private Collection

CHARNEL HOUSE

                                             

2005


Grey Granite - China
Limestone - Ireland
White Marble - Italy
Pine Wood - Canada
Lead

0.60m x 0.22m x 1.93m High

Private Collection


The Story

The definition of  ' Charnel ' is ;  A building , room , or vault in which the bones or bodies of the dead are placed ........... 

THE EXHIBITIONS

1984
Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts , Dublin , Ireland .

1985
Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts , Dublin , Ireland .
Oireachtas Exhibition , Dublin , Ireland .

1986     
Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts , Dublin , Ireland .
Oireachtas Exhibition , Dublin , Ireland .
Tuckmill Gallery , Co., Kildare , Ireland .
Eigse Exhibition , Co , Carlow , Ireland .

1987
Oireachtas Exhibition , Dublin , Ireland . { First Prize }
Tuckmill Gallery , Co., Kildare , Ireland .
Eigse Exhibition , Co. , Carlow , Ireland .

1988
Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts , Dublin , Ireland .
Oireachtas Exhibition , Dublin , Ireland .
Tuckmill Gallery , Co., Kildare , Ireland .
Eigse Exhibition , Co , Carlow , Ireland .
Dunlavin Arts Festival , Co., Wicklow , Ireland . { Invited }
Sculpture in Context , Dublin , Ireland .
Sculpture Open ' 88 , Dublin , Ireland .

1989
Oireachtas Exhibition , Dublin , Ireland .
Tuckmill Gallery , Co., Kildare , Ireland .
Sculpture in Context , Dublin , Ireland .

1990
Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts , Dublin , Ireland .
Oireachtas Exhibition , Dublin , Ireland .
Tuckmill Gallery , Co., Kildare , Ireland .
Royal Dublin Society , Spring Show , Dublin , Ireland . { Invited }
Johnstown , Garden Centre , Sculpture Exhibition ,
Co., Kildare , Ireland .

1991
Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts , Dublin , Ireland .
Oireachtas Exhibition , Dublin , Ireland .
Tuckmill Gallery , Co., Kildare , Ireland .
Sculpture in Context , Dublin , Ireland .
Espace International Exhibition , Dublin , Ireland .

1992
Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts , Dublin , Ireland .
Oireachtas Exhibition , Dublin , Ireland .
Tuckmill Gallery , Co., Kildare , Ireland .
Sculpture in Context , Dublin , Ireland .
Gateway to Art Exhibition , Dublin Airport , Ireland . { Invited }

1993
Oireachtas Exhibition , Dublin , Ireland .
Tuckmill Gallery , Co., Kildare , Ireland .
Allied Irish Banks Private Exhibition , Dublin , Ireland . {Invited }

1994
Oireachtas Exhibition , Dublin , Ireland .
Tuckmill Gallery , Co., Kildare , Ireland .
Sculpture in Context , Dublin , Ireland .
Meath Artists Exhibition , Co., Meath , Ireland . { Invited }
Dunlavin Arts Festival , Co., Wicklow , Ireland .
'' The Stone and the Sea '' International Sculpture Exhibition ,
Riccione , Italy . { Invited }

1995
Tuckmill Gallery , Co., Kildare , Ireland .
Dunlavin Arts Festival , Co., Wicklow , Ireland .
A.K.A. Exhibition , Maynooth University , Ireland .
The Camac Sculpture Exhibition , Dublin , Ireland . { Invited }

1996
Tuckmill Gallery , Co., Kildare , Ireland
Dunlavin Arts Festival , Co., Wicklow , Ireland .
Kildard County Show , Co,. Kildare , Ireland . { Invited Restrospective }
A.K.A. Exhibition , Pickering Forest , Co., Kildare , Ireland .

1997
Tuckmill Gallery , Co., Kildare , Ireland .
Dunlavin Arts Festival , Co., Wicklow , Ireland .
Montbrison Arts Festival , Montbrison , France . { Invited }
'' Scogliere Viva '' Exhibition , Caorle , Italy . { Invited }
'' Gateway to Art '' Exhibition , Dublin Airport , Ireland .

1998
Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts , Dublin , Ireland .
Tuckmill Gallery , Co., Kildare , Ireland .
Dunlavin Arts Festival , Co., Wicklow , Ireland .
13th Biennal International Bronzework Exhibition ,
The Dantean Centre of Ravenna , Italy . { Invited }
'' Skin Deep '' One Man Show of sculpture , paintings , mix media ,
Kildare County Council , Head Office , Naas , Ireland .

1999
Royal Ulster Academy of Arts , Belfast , Northern Ireland .
Tuckmill Gallery , Co., Kildare , Ireland .
Dunlavin Arts Festival , Co., Wicklow , Ireland .
Carrol Art Gallery , Longford , Ireland . { Invited }
A.K.A. Exhibition , Benburb , Co., Tyrone , Northern Ireland .
A.K.A. Exhibition , Victoria Mill , Co., Kildare , Ireland .
'' Case ' 99 '' The Lavit Gallery , Cork City , Ireland . { Invited }
Montbrison Arts Festival , Montbrison , France .
{ Voted by the Public ;  Honorary Public Prize }

2000
Royal Ulster Academy of Arts , Belfast , Northern Ireland .
Tuckmill Gallery , Co., Kildare , Ireland .
Dunlavin Arts Festival , Co., Wicklow , Ireland .
A.K.A. Exhibition , Victoria Mill , Co., Kildare . Ireland .
International Sculpture Exhibition , La Pradet , France . { Invited }

2001
Royal Ulster Academy of Arts , Belfast , Northern Ireland .
Oireachtas Exhibition , Dublin , Ireland . { First Prize }
Tuckmill Gallery , Co., Kildare , Ireland .
Dunlavin Arts Festival , Co., Wicklow , Ireland .
A.K.A. Exhibition , Riverbank Arts Centre , Co., Kildare , Ireland .
Frank Lewis Gallery , Killarney , Co., Kerry , Ireland . { Invited }
International Sculpture Exhibition , Baik Song Art Gallery , Seoul , Korea . { Invited }
'' Postcards from Ireland '' , Bingo Hall Gallery , Brooklyn , New York , America .
International Sculpture Exhibition , Cava- Museo Gallery , Isolona di Orero , Italy .{ Invited }
'' Le Cheile '', Irish Artists Against Racism , R.H.A. Gallery , Dublin , Ireland .

2002
Tuckmill Gallery , Co., Kildare , Ireland .
Dunlavin Arts Festival , Co., Wicklow , Ireland .
A.K.A. Exhibition , Riverbank Arts Centre , Co., Kildare , Ireland .
Frank Lewis Gallery , Killarney , Co., Kerry , Ireland . { Invited }
International Sculpture Exhibition , Cava- Museo Gallery , Isolona di Orero , Italy .{ Invited }
International Small Sculpture Exhibition , Almazan , Soria , Spain . {Invited }
Nandan Art Museum , Visva Bharati University ,
Santiniketan , West Bengal , India . { Invited Guest Artist }

2003
Oireachtas Exhibition , Dublin , Ireland .
Tuckmill Gallery , Co., Kildare , Ireland .
Dunlavin Arts Festival , Co., Wicklow , Ireland .
A.K.A. Exhibition , Riverbank Arts Centre , Co., Kildare , Ireland .
International Small Sculpture Exhibition , Praxis International Gallery ,
Barranco , Lima , Peru , South America . { Invited }
''Gerard Manley Hopkins Summer International School'',
Monasterevin , Co., Kildare , Ireland . { Invited Retrospective }
International Small Sculpture Exhibition , Nec Plus Arte Gallery ,
San Isidro , Lima , Peru , South America . { Invited }

2004
Tuckmill Gallery , Co., Kildare , Ireland .
Dunlavin Arts Festival , Co., Wicklow , Ireland .
A.K.A. Exhibition , Riverbank Arts Centre , Co., Kildare , Ireland .
Frank Lewis Gallery , Killarney , Co., Kerry , Ireland . { Invited }
International Touring Small Sculpture Exhibition , Japan . { Invited }
Kameyama Sculpture Garden , Seki-City , Japan .
Kobe-City , International Sculpture Exhibition , Japan .
Leshima-Isla , International Sculpture Exhibition , Japan .
Gifu Prefectural Museum , Japan .
Gifu International Convention Centre , Japan .
Active ' G ' Gallery , Gifu City , Japan .

2005
Royal Hibernian of Arts , Dublin , Ireland .
Tuckmill Gallery , Co., Kildare , Ireland .
Dunlavin Arts Festival , Co., Wicklow , Ireland .
A.K.A. Exhibition , Riverbank Arts Centre , Co., Kildare , Ireland .
''Gerard Manley Hopkins Summer International School'',
Monasterevin , Co., Kildare , Ireland .
International Touring Small Sculpture Exhibition , Japan . { Invited }
Kameyama Sculpture Garden , Seki-City , Japan .
Kobe-City , International Sculpture Exhibition , Japan .
Leshima-Isla , International Sculpture Exhibition , Japan .
Gifu Prefectural Museum , Japan .
Gifu International Convention Centre , Japan .
Active ' G ' Gallery , Gifu City , Japan .

2007
Sarawak Cultural Arts and Craft Festival , Kuching City , Borneo .
{ Invited }
Galleria Gallery , Kuching City , Borneo . { Invited }

2008
Rainforest World Music Festival / Folk Art Forum '08 ,
Sarawak Cultural Village , Borneo . { Invited Guest Speaker}

PHILOSOPHER'S WEDGE

                                                                                                                                        

2005

Black Granite - South Africa
White Granite - Ireland

Private Collection

2m High

ON A WING AND A PRAYER

2003


Carrara Marble , Italy
0.57m x 0.17m x 0.38m

Private Collection

Model for Large Public Work in Marble

The Story

I was approached by a man who had plans to set up a spiritual centre in South America and wanted to place a large out door sculpture in the grounds of the centre . The only brief I was given was to design a sculpture that was symbolic of  ' spirituality '  in an abstract form ,  The material and size was left to me including the siting and the lighting of the finished work . When a sculptor gets a project like this , creativity can flow , but keeping in mind the budget and not to ' kill it ',  that it can be a reality and the work get sited .  This work never got sited due to reasons out of my control and it would not be fair to the man who was giving me the commission to state it here as to why ........ it could still yet happen .
                                                                    
ON A WING AND A PRAYER ..... as I have said before titles help the viewer to form the thinking and message behind the sculpture even when the sculpture is in abstract form . My title for this work , on hearing or reading it tells you it's dealing with Hope and that's the main message in this work .
A spiritual center embraces all races and religions and that was the idea behind this one so even though I was asked to design an abstract sculpture it's not pure abstract that no body but only the artist can understand it . The sculpture must have some ' spiritual-ness ' about it and be in tune with it's surroundings and purpose ,  in other words , in harmony .
                                                                      
The front and the back of this sculpture do not exist as such for both views depict different messages . In the top photograph and starting from the top , is the ' finger of God '  pointing towards the earth and resting on the Book that's draped with in an ' angles wing ', [ ON A WING } . The book symbolic of all religious books { PRAYER } . When you can picture yourself standing and looking up at the sculpture it all comes into perspective .
                                                                       
When you look at the other photograph the sculpture has no connections in design as to what's going on on the other side , both views hide each other and both views have totally different feelings and messages .  This side the message is the ' Human '  where as the other side it is the ' Spiritual '.  The broken egg form is symbolic of birth and the form around it is the womb . The overall message in the sculpture is easy to see and understand ........ it's a sculpture of Hope for all Human Beings .

BLACK HOLE

2005


Black Granite - South Africa
Grey Granite - China
Pine Wood- Canada

0.60m x 0.22m x 1.90m

Private Collection

The Story

To make a sculpture using traditional materials stone and wood and with a title '' Black Hole '' I feel the design concept is limited in how to portray the Black Hole of outer space , right now I can think of four different ways I could make this sculpture using only stone and wood but if you were to think of  ' installation ' you have opened up the possibilities of making a sculpture with a title  '' Black Hole ''.  
                                  In the making of art in any form be it in the traditional ways or the ' new ways ' as in materials that we can use in this time we are now in , and the way we now look at art and what we accept as art , what I am saying is , the ' rules ' in today's thinking of  ' what is art ' either don't exist or are bent , in other words , room for more play and experimentation in the making  not like in the past , where if you did not finish the stone or the painting in the traditional way it was just not accepted by the so called art establishment or the collectors . Today we have more freedom for expression in the arts that everybody has the chance to be an artist even by profession .
                                 If I was born 200 years ago I would not be accepted as an artist unless I did my training in the academies and followed the rules of the time then and only then I might have the chance of making my living as an artist . Today is a good time to be an artist , freedom in technique and freedom in expression .
The only rule I would feel and apply to myself  is , try for 100% .

SYMPOSIUMS

The Story

As a sculptor I am grateful to have the opportunity and invitations to take part in the Symposiums , twenty one in total . They have been my training ground as a sculptor . To work and think quick and gain the confidence in working the big and many different stones . The meeting of many fine sculptors and the sharing of the information of stone and it's way in working it . As a self taught sculptor the Symposiums were my ' schooling ' and the adventure in the making of my art and me as a whole .
I feel I have been quite fortunate at the time to be in certain countries when history was in the making that is , when The Berlin Wall collapsed and Communism fell I was in Kazakhstan then part of the U.S.S.R. , when 9/11 happened I was in Incheon City , South Korea and exactly at the time of the Millennium I was in Sahara Desert , I felt a nice place to be at the time when the rest of the world was celebrating and I was in the dark and the quietness , it had the feeling of been detached from the event and yet very much part of it .
My Destiny placed me in these countries not only for me to make my work but to really feel to be part of the world and the making of  it's history , I am happy for that , and as I wrote in one of my quotes .....
'' Destiny will find you ''.


The Symposiums

1988    BULGARIA

            13th International Symposium in Stone ,                            
            Burgas 
            Bulgarian Marble
            Sited ; Childrens Street .
            Title ;  '' Zmya-Zena ''  { '' Snake Woman '' }
            2.5m Long

1989   KAZAKHSTAN former U.S.S.R. 
        1st International Symposium in Stone ,
           Djhambul City
           Local Stone
           Sited ; Main Public Park .
           Title ; '' The Wall of Bureaucracy ''
           8m Long x 1.2m High x 0.4m Wide

1991   Germany
           3rd International Symposium in Stone
           Mayen
           Volcanic Stone
           Sited ; Mayen Sculpture Park
           Title ; '' A Moderan Day Rider Emerging from the Stone ''
           Bike ; 2.4m Long
           Road ; 3.80m Long

1993   SARDINIA
           5th International Symposium in Stone
           Budduso , Comune di Budduso
           Granite
           Sited ; outside Main Cemetery
           Title ; '' The Granite Fruit Tree ''
           Tree ; 3m High
           Base ; 2m Long

1993   ISRAEL   awarded  First Prize
           2nd International Symposium in Stone
           Ma'alot - Tarshiha
           Yiftah Marble
           Sited ; Main  Round-a-bout
           Title ; '' The Kings Pillow ''
           2.40m Long x 2m High
           
1994   ITALY
           4th International Symposium in Wood
           Lama Mocogno , Comune di Lama Mocogno
           Cherry Wood , Stone and Water
           Sited ; Central Public Park
           Title ; '' Cascade ''
            3m High
            Base ; 4m Long

1994   ITALY
           4th International Symposium in Marble
           '' The Stone and the Sea ''
           Open Air Museum of Contemporary Art
           Riccione , Comune di Riccione
           Carrara Marble
           Sited ; Open Air Museum
           Title ; '' Cascade ''
           3m High
           Base ; 2m Long

1995   SARDINIA
           5th International Symposium in Trachite
           Fordongianus , Comune di Fordongianus [ OR ]
           Trachite Stone
           Sited ; Fordongianus
           Title ; '' Jazzman Sings ''
           2m High x 0.8m 0.8m

1995    ITALY 
            1st International Symposium in Marble
            Gorfigliano , Comune di Gorfigliano-Minucciano [ LU ]
           '' Orto di Donna '' Marble
            Sited ; Sports Ground
            Title ; '' The Robe of Christ '' 
                     { '' La Toga di Cristo '' }
            2m High x 1.30m x 0.60m
            Base ; 3m Long x 1.60m High

1997   FRANCE          
           6th International Symposium in Stone
           '' The Landscape of Tomorrow '' { '' Demain le Paysage '' }
           Montbrison
           Gres Stone
           Sited ; Montbrison
           Title ; '' A Tree for the Third Millennium ''
            2.50m High x 0.50 x 0.50

1997   ITALY
           5th International Symposium in Trachite
           Caorle , Provincia di Venezia
           Trachite Stone
           Sited ; The Promenade
           Title ; '' Reincarnation of the Boy King ''
           2m Long x 1.50m High

1999   FRANCE    awarded  Honorary Public Prize
           7th International in Stone
           '' What Sort of Games for the XXI Annual ''
            Montbrison
            Pierre de Lens Stone
            Sited ; Montbrison
            Title ; '' Hide and Seek in France '' 
                     { '' Cache-Cache en France '' }            
            1.20m High x 0.60m x 0.60m

1999    AFRICA ,  MAURITANIA
2000    1st International Symposium in Granite
            Ben Amira - Isha Monoliths
            Granite
            Sited ; Ben Amira Monolith , Sahara Desert
            Title ; '' Offering ''
             2.70m Long x 1.80m High x 1.60m

2000    FRANCE
            1st International Symposium in Marble
            '' The Sub-Marine World '' { '' Le Monde Sous-Marin '' }
            Le Pradet
            Romanian Marble
            Sited ; Le Pradet
            Title ; '' The Sub-Marine World ''
                     { '' Le Monde Sous-Marin '' }
            2mHigh x 1.60m x 1.60m

2001    ITALY
            3rd International Symposium in Black Slate
           '' La Pieta Nera ''
            Cicagna , Cornia Comune di Moconesi [ GE ]
            Fontanabuona Black Slate
            Sited ; Cicagna
            Title ; '' To be or not to be '' 
                     { '' Essere o non-Essere '' }
            1m High x 0.50m x 0.50m

2001    South KOREA
            4th International Symposium in Granite
            Inchon City
            Granite Black and White
            Sited ; Sculpture Park
            Title ; '' Custodian to Heaven and Earth ''
             3.40m High
             Base ; 1.20m Long

2002     INDIA
             1st International Symposium in Sandstone
             Bhopal City , Madhya Pradesh
             Rajasthan Sandstone
             Sited ; Technology Park , Ayodhya Township
             Title ;  '' Shristi ''   {'' Life in Creation ''}
             2m Long x 1.80m High x 0.80m

2002     INDIA  West BENGAL
             Santiniketan
             Kala Bhavan
             Faculty of Fine Arts
             Visva Bharati University
             Invited Guest Artist
             Work ; Welded Steel
             Sited ;  Nandan Art Museum Santiniketan
             Titile ; '' Energy for Bengal ''
             2.75m x 1.22m x 1.22m

2002    SPAIN
            1st International Symposium in Limestone
            Almazan , Soria
            Piedra de Calatorao Limestone
            Sited ; Almazan
            Title ;  '' The Ghost of El Cid ''
            2.70m x 0.50m x 0.50m

2002    ITALY
            2nd International Symposium in Marble
            '' La Scultura in Rosso ''
            Sella Chianzutan , Comune di Verzegnis [ UD ]
            Verzegnis Red Marble , Stainless Steel Bar
            Sited ;  Sella Chianzutan - Verzegnis
            Title ; '' Celtic Spirit of the Mountain ''
                      '' La Spirito Celtico della Montagna ''
             1.60m High x 1.50m x 1.90m Long
              2.50m S.S.Bar

2003     PERU  South America
             3rd International Symposium in Granite
             Lima , Miraflores
             Peruivan Gray Granite
             Sited ;  City Hall Park , Lima
             Title ;  '' Divine Plan to Inca ''
             1.80m Long x 1.20m x 1.20m

2005    BORNEO   Malaysia
            2nd International Delphic Games
            '' Kayu Batu Sarawak ''
             Kuching City , Sarawak
             Gray Granite , Belian Wood and Steel
             Sited ; Reservoir Park , Kuching City
             Title ;  '' Reborn - Pyramid of Hope for Borneo ''
              3 stones ; Average Height , 1.60m
              Belian Wood ; 3.66m High
              Steel Pyramid ; 0.61m
          

COUNTER BALANCE

2005

                                                                                                     


Limestone - Ireland
Marble - Italy


0.46m x 0.19m x 0.32m high

Model for Public Work
Collection of the Artist

The Story

' Counter Balance ' is a sculpture that I tried to portray a message of spirituality within our everyday life in our time .
The top part is symbolic of the arms of a scales with the gold leaf connected to the heavens balanced on the house symbolic of our habitat and the white marble symbolic of us as Human Beings in my stylised version of yin and yang and all balanced on the world .
In the appearance of the sculpture and the initial impact on the mind of the viewer on first seeing it , and without making any judgements ,  I wanted to give the overall feeling of spirituality in balance and in strength and lightness as in ' floating '. The sculpture is viewed 360 degrees , in that , as you approach it from any angle it ' reads ' the same .
A sculpture should ' connect ' to the people in some way that it can stimulate in mind , feelings as in sensations and emotions and in that way it lives on in their minds , consciously or sub-consciously and then it becomes part of us that we could have the same feelings towards it as if it was ' living ' .
' Counter Balance ' is a sculpture for people of all persuasions that it ' connects ' to their inner senses as  Human Beings .

SAIL ENERGY

2005
Green Limestone - Ireland
Granite - Ireland
Brass Bar


0.31m high

Model for large public work

Model in Private Collection






The ' sail ' can also be made in Stainless Steel which could rotate and the ' boat ' in a local stone of the location for the sculpture .


The Story

This is a work in the Abstract style that is designed to be sited at a waterfront with the sea as the background . I want to give the feeling and the appearance of a sail moving on the sea as if you as the
observer looked out to sea and for a couple of seconds the sail had a mirage effect on you . The brass rod is symbolic of sun light passing down the sail and in it's reality would reflect the sun light at different times of the day . The limestone as the sail and the granite as the boat would have a high polish to reflect the sun .
The sculpture is to capture the ' moment ' in the action .

A BROKEN MAN

                                                       

2005

Gray Granite - Ireland
Limestone - Ireland

Private Collection

The Story

I made this work in a naive style and giving it a ' tribal ' appearance to try to convey a ' rawness ' energy and in keeping with the title of the work . It was the title that I came up with first and then made the work to the feeling of the words and in giving the sculpture it's own energy and presence when you stand beside it , as if you were standing beside a human being telling you he is a ' broken man '.  Sometimes a sculpture does not need a title and can give out it's own message in the way the work is presented but I like to title my work as the title along with the work is just as important for they together complete the work .
It can be like a human being having no name , we are at a loss as to how to make contact and then we feel our own confidence is threatened .

ESSERE O NON ESSERE { TO BE OR NOT TO BE }

                      

       

2001

                                                                                                  
CICAGNA,                                                                   

CORNIA, COMUNE DI MOCONESI ,
ITALY

Fontanabuona Black Slate
1m High x 0.5m x 0.5m


3rd International Symposium in Slate
'La Pietra Nera'

The Story

It's unavoidable in Italy not to feel the strong religious ' presence ' in architecture or the church bells ringing out almost all hours of the day especially in the mountains or small towns or villages almost everywhere you go and Cicagna is one of those small towns in the mountains that has that ' presence '.
Cicagna , besides it's marble has it's slate mines , a blue - black slate of quite good quality and the slate was the material I chose to work in having never tried it before , some of the other sculptors chose to work in the local marble . The working technique of slate is not like any other carving process and took me awhile maybe the whole working time of the symposium to feel any way relaxed with the material . The making of sculpture in slate is not very common because you are quite restricted as in what you can do to the material but I would feel more comfortable in the abstract design in the material and cut in the ' right way ' the lines can be very clean and polish up to a very fine finish , that's the plus for the material . When you work the material ' face on ' it's quite hard to carve any grate depth into it and that's why hand cut letters look and wear well in slate , the weather can never damage the material , but when you work the slate with the vein it falls away in sheets , and therefore the working approach I adapted was ' cut in and chop out ' maybe other sculptors have a different working method for the slate but this was the way I approach the material and before I cut the slate I had to think about the cut as in what way it was going to come out and in the way I wanted it to . I would liked to have more time on my hands to see what I could do with the material , this is always the way in working the stone , you want to give it your best as it will give you it's best , but as in symposium it was not to be and to finish the work was more important , always finish , it's your name and reputation , it's better for it to travel ahead of you in good words than bad .
ESSERE O NON ESSERE { To Be Or Not To Be }
From the photographs you can see it's dealing about religion and from the title of the work you can understand the message in the sculpture , but the deeper message within the work is  the conscious and the sub-conscious  mind . The conscious mind [ the thinking mind ] is symbolic of Moses carrying the tablets which the Ten Commandments are carved on in Roman numerals down from the mountain and and the figure at the back is the sub-conscious mind [ non thinking mind ] carved in semi abstract form and burying it's face in it's hands , not wanting to be part of what's going on . You will notice from the photographs that the conscious mind from the weight of the tablets and the responsibility it carries is leaning into the sub-conscious mind as for support . The two minds are joined together at the back of the head showing that the sub-conscious mind can be accessed if we know how to go about it and that both can be one and be one [ To Be Or Not To Be ] .  At the base of the stone on the polished side , which I call ' the dark side ' is carved the sun , the moon and the Tower of Babel , so immense was the Tower that it's top was in the heavens according to the bibical account . The Tower was not built for the worship or praise of God but was dedicated to the glory of man and God seeing what the people had done came down and destroyed the Tower and scattered the people throughout the Earth . Carving the Tower into my work was important to me and the Mind and God debate within myself is still going on as it has since the beginning of Time as we know it .
Most people looking at my work will not see the ' deep message ' in it at first but some will and I remember one old man did get the meaning when I was completing my work but it was not until I carved the Tower of Babel did the sculpture come together for him . I am always surprised when my work can ' touch ' .
                                                    

  

                                                                

THE GHOST OF EL CID

2002                                                                                 

ALMAZAN , { Soria }
SPAIN

Local Limestone

2.7m High x 0.50m x 0.50m

1st International Symposium in Limestone










The Story

It was not long after my return from India that I received an inviation to take part in a symposium in Almazan , Soria , Spain  and it was not until I reached Spain that cultural shock really ' kicked in ' on me . The time from India to Spain was to short as I was still  ' deprogramming ' from India and the work I did there . I do not repeat my work or style in every country, each country deserves a different work , a work that the people of that country can relate to and that's why I go through ' deprogramming ' .

Almazan has a local limestone and it's near to the hardness of granite . My block and size was already chosen for me , that is , when I arrived there the block was already on site and my name on it . So that's it , destiny has chosen the stone condition and size and if I am in '' tune '' with the stone the right sculpture will come out . , this is symposium , the meeting of other sculptors , the work , the challenge , the stone and the time to work it in , if you cannot work within the time allowed for the symposium......... don't go .

My sculpture had to relate to Spain or better still Almazan and my feelings were telling me , El Cid . Spain has many histories and not like the Spain of today and El Cid is part of that history , the part where castles were in their glory and Spain was Spain .  Trying to portray a part of a country's history be it in paint or sculpture is not an easy task and needs research but as I have said before I work with my ' feelings ' and THE GHOST OF EL CID  was going to relive in my stone . So not to ' waste ' away the stone I used all that was given to me and carved ' snap shots ' of El Cids time in Spain   .......    castles , swords and shields mountains and battle fields complete with the rats in after the battle to feed . One sculptor taking part in the symposium made the remark to me that I was painting the stone , { it was not a complement } , it just showed he was judging sculpture on his own concept as to what sculpture should be and therefore he has already reached his ' peak '.  In the making of art it's all about ' expression ' and not ' proven formulas ' that feel safe . In the process of making art it's a transformation of mind and body , a learning and feeling change that's private and when it's all finished it becomes the artwork born from an idea , a feeling and the desire to create and not from the ' proven formula '.

The main door of my castle you can enter your hand in right up to your elbow , which means that I carved the inside of the stone out , not drilled because with drilling the chance of bursting the stone open is greater and I could not take that chance with the stone , and so it was carved by hand as in hammer and punch and air hammer . Even though my sculpture is depicting scenes from a history , the real ' joy ' for me in this work was opening the stone as in the door of the castle and to see how far I could ' push ' the  stone ...... the door to El Cid's world has just opened .