The Early Days
I first started by creating stonebalancing sculptures on the beaches near where I live in Devon.
As my sculptures on the beaches were transitory, they had to be captured photographically so they could endure.
All the photographs in these collections were taken on the south coast of England, sometimes in what can only be described as typically English weather. Most were shot at dawn or dusk, when the light is optimal, but crucially when it was still, with no wind. The photographs would provoke endless scrutiny and controversy, admiration and awe, but mostly they were proof that what is static can also be alive, that what has lived will always die... except of course if you have one of my sculptures ;-)
Beach Sculpture Photos
Before I moved on to creating sculptures for people's homes and gardens, I spent many years earning a living from the photographs I took of the transitory sculptures I made on the beaches in Dorset and Devon. The galleries below are some of these photographs.
Experimental Stonebalancing
The capricious weather rarely played ball, so a lot of of the balancing and photography was quite challenging, and I achieved more when I had a good weather window and made the most of the conditions. There were spills and thrills along the way, high seas and dangerous tides; treacherous coastal paths to navigate and slippery rocks to catch you unawares. Damaged equipment and sore bodies were common, but getting the perfect shots of the balanced sculptures was a goal worth striving for.
I am solely interested in shapes, not the type of rock, or size or weight. I envisage how certain rocks will work together when balanced, whether they will complement each other or be an imperfect match. The hardness of the rock is important. If it’s too soft, it can crumble because of the intense pressure at the point of contact, losing all purchase. For the geologists, the rocks I am using at the moment are limestone, greensand, granite, sandstone and sometimes flint and chert.
In the past 25 years, my work has evolved to include new ideas and themes, but the predominant feature remains the beauty and seemingly impossible nature of balance.
Two noteworthy events shaped the direction of my art by sparking my imagination and encouraging me to experiment with stonebalancing art.
1. The Equipoise exhibition at the Art Trove Gallery in Singapore. This was a series of photographs by Duncan George of my sculptures on the Devon coast and in urban Singapore.
2. A collaboration with photographer Mikael Buck to create a collection of sculptures for the Isle of Man tourist board.
Exhibitions:
The Art trove and the Leica Gallery, Singapore
Equipoise Exhibition
A solo exhibition at the Art Trove gallery in Singapore showcasing a commissioned collection of photographs of stonebalancing sculptures created in the UK and Singapore. Photographs by Duncan George.
Isle of Man
Isle of Man Collection
A commission by the Isle of Man tourist board of photographs of my stonebalancing sculptures at iconic and beautiful locations on the island. Photographs by Mikael Buck.
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