THE SKY IS GREY

During the UK’s first lockdown I spent much of my time experimenting with electroforming, an electro chemical process that dates from the 19th century and was originally used to produce printing plates. THE SKY IS GREY is one of the first pieces I constructed using the process. Although complex and time consuming one of the delights of the technique is discovering the huge variation in the texture and colour of metal that can be produced often in pleasingly unpredictable ways. The sculpture seemed to reflect that unpredictability and didn’t quite turn out as I had imagined. I am however very happy with the result. I think there’s there’s something quite classical and rather enigmatic about her. Is she contemporary or ancient? I can almost imagine her being hauled up from the deep sea, a relic from antiquity. It’s also not clear if she’s in a state of decay or growth. In any event she seems to be content looking at the sky. On the autumn day I finished her I was listening to The Mamas & The Papas which is why I know for a fact that the sky is grey.

She is the first of what will be a varied limited edition of 10.

The same technique is being employed on another series of new works UNTO DUST. Please click on the link here to find out more.