Hearts & Minds or (Heart versus Mind)

'Head'
'Head'

There seems to be an unprecedented occurence of natural disasters and man created ones happening at the moment. The damage that these are causing both physically to the world and then traumatically to human kind is sometimes beyond belief. We all make difficult journeys in our lives, situations that come along to test us; some more than others. We all carry scars, things that we lose that we don’t forget, can’t forget, these can take things from us that we can’t replace. We can still be whole, still ensure that the essence of our human nature remains in tact. This is the philosophy behind this piece.

I think it was a challenge for my husband about ‘how to’ create this, he had the idea for a while. The process was a little more elaborate than with other pieces, the thought process, the preparation, the technique was deliberated over. Perhaps more visibly so for me than other works. There is also the view from the side that looks like the brain. This has made me think about the brain versus the mind and has made me remember some of what I studied whilst doing my psychology degree. We use so little of our brain. All the man-made disasters makes me think how we don’t use our brains. How we don’t mind the suffering or the damage that is caused. We are often so unable to put ourselves in the position of another, to understand another view-point.

However, I have noticed looking at the view from the front, over the nose there is a heart. In my opinion, we should use our hearts more than brains. There lies the ultimate dichotomy in human beings, there is so much compassion, care and understanding. I think it’s our ‘heart’ that makes us human.

Balance

The smooth surfaces in this piece make me reflect. The balancing act of mother and child, a re-occuring theme.
Oh! to find some balance in our lives.

Spring is here, I feel; at last. The new shoots are coming through, spring lambs are appearing in the fields. New life is evident in the natural cycle of nature. A time to de-clutter our lives, re-address our life styles, take more time outside and enjoy the simple things. To look at nature and reflect.

Strength

'Mother & Child'
'Mother & Child'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In thinking about the philosophy of my husband’s work, we discussed the strength of a sculpture and the durabitlity over time. I learnt that he sees in outlines, that he is creating outlines, playing with the way we see backgrounds and shapes or perhaps more importantly how we don’t and so making that the subject. It is abstracting the 3D form back to the simple aspects of line, form, shadow, shape.

This ‘Mother and Child’ sculpture is a good example of that abstraction, simplification and strength of line and boldness of form. In ‘Motherhood’ we have to have strength for so many reason, the initial pregnancy and birth and then throughout our children’s lives.

One of my best friends is in the midst of a life changing decision. She needs to find her inner strength in order to help her process all the thoughts she is having. We all have it, an inner strength, but sometimes we need a certain situation to bring our strength of character into being. In the past I thought being strong meant hardness, resilience, a kind of coldness. It can mean those things but if we are strong within our beautiful frame the delicate nature of some characteristics can strengthen, then we can withstand all sorts that life throws at us.

Organisation

These two pieces can at first seem abstract, and that in itself is a subject. They highlight a theme of shadow and light, positive and negative space which is a theme that runs throughout the work. If you look at the positive space, the fluidity and smoothness is remarkable considering these were both made in clay just by hands and were then cast in resin. The negative space is even more interesting, a pervading theme of Mother and Child appears…

It has been important for me to look at these, as it has emphasised what we talked about just last night in preparation for writing an Artist’s statement. I really need to get more organised in so many areas of my life. I think I am very much in between on a scale of ‘organised’ and ‘going with the flow’. Occasionally I have times of extreme organisation and then happy to just let things be, but in between I am constantly berating myself for not being more organised or not being more able to let things be. The never-ending circle of daily jobs, the constant flow of thought and emotions, the movement from one task to another. There is obviously so much benefit in having a routine and organised approach to daily life but then ‘life’, the beauty of it, is the randomness, spontaneity? Argh! I am going around in circles. Which is why these sculptures, actually almost calm me down in looking at them.

Friendship & Perspectives

'The Missing'

We have missed the sunshine for the last few days, it has felt like it was constantly raining. Such is the English weather. Our Swiss/Egyptian friends were staying with us gave us a holiday from our usual routine. The smell of coffee filled the house, we had the Egyptian news on in the background, a number of languages being batted about and various discussions alongside eating far too much food!

It always amazes me how we are all the same in so many ways but can lead such different lives, have alternative viewpoints. I used to think we should look for friendship in people who were the same as ourselves. However, the beauty of friendship is to gain from someone else what we lack in ourselves and appreciate what we have. We can’t have it all and sometimes others can play out another lifestyle for us. It’s important to spend time with others to listen to another point of view, understand that our way is not the only way. I felt a loss as we waved them goodbye, but now it’s a time to be on our own again to reflect.

The sun has ironically come out now they have gone  and I had my wisdom tooth extracted this afternoon. I was so nervous. I was asked by the dentist if I wanted to keep it but I decided not to. The idea felt at first like a piece of me was going to be missing. At the moment my mouth aches and something inside the cavity is annoying. It will soon heal over and hopefully my discomfort will go. Sometimes we need a little pain, a little missing, in our life in order to understand the comfort. A different perspective on things can only make us stronger.

Patience

 

 

The Wise Owl
The wise old owl
Sat in an oak.
The more he saw,
The less he spoke.
The less he spoke,
The more he heard.
Why can’t we be like
That wise old bird?

 

Well, I have blogged my way through January and made it to February although I don’t think I have any readers!! (Apart from family) My sister made the good point that I was being very reflective. So I am writing today about today…I have agonising face ache due to a swollen mouth all because of a wisdom tooth, will I be a little less wise next week after extraction?!

This amazingly serene sculpture arrived last week, so it is our most recent finished creation. My husband titled it ‘Patience’ and said it was me. The prominent nose and defined eyelids do in some way resemble me and I do tend to keep quiet about things. I have always thought that  patience  was my strong point although it is being tested at the moment with my eldest child but I think the contributing factor is my tooth. My pain threshold is high but not without side effects!

Interestingly, I was listening to women’s hour this morning and an artist has just kept silent for a month! I am not sure if I could do that. Although I believe sometimes that, like the owl in my children’s stories. He is wise enough to listen and in listening realises it’s wise not to say so much…

Also, at this moment in Egypt, millions are speaking out after a ’30 year long silence’. We just came back from Egypt at the end of December after visiting our family there. I must say that as a country Egypt tests my patience to the core. There were no real signs that such a revolution was about to happen and we are getting such mixed responses from family and friends as to what is happening on the ground. I guess sat here in England we will just have to wait and be patient and watch what will happen today.


Rest a while

 

This sculpture to me, is stunning. It is symbolic, representational, abstract, Egyptian,modern and an age-old theme all at the same time. The elegance of the leg cradling the baby, the curves and  the shadows. Beautiful. At the moment I find the only time I do sit down is when I am nursing. I often feel I should be constantly busy, there are after all always things to do. However, there is beauty in ‘just’ sitting, contemplating and reflecting. Especially with a newborn the moments are precious. Today we are so fascinated and preoccupied by speed, convenience and having it all now. We often miss the tiny precious moments. Our souls often need us to rest to rebalance. So, sit and rest a while...
'Mother and Child'

Beginnings

So, How did I meet my sculptor?

It was Art and Fate!

I was dreaming of becoming and artist and then I  met one. I was living at my parents house and my  Father told me about this Egyptian artist who was  designing their bathroom. One wet evening after  visiting an art college and planning a trip around  the world, my father shouted from downstairs and  I came down the stairs and there he was. I didn’t  take the trip around the world, I did go to the art  college but only for a year. That was all 8 years  ago!….These beautiful bronze pieces were made and distributed by a  gift ware company. It was a beginning…

Aiming High

'Aiming High'

Searching for my soul,

I sit at the top of a mountain,

I see it disappearing over the edge

It speaks to me and says

“Where are you going my friend?”

Do you always want to be at the top?

How long will you stay there?

There is no place here for me.

The Process

'Creating'

Sometimes with ‘Art’ it’s easy to think, I could do that and it is great to encourage the artist within us. I do like to believe we can all create something. However, talent is something different and each one of us has their own. My husband is talented. An extremely talent sculptor. I can see it just watching him make and create. He makes it seem easy which is often the way when you watch a professional do anything they are accomplished at. Give me a piece of clay and I can play with it, but to make the pieces he does with his hands and sometimes the odd wooden tool it is truly amazing to watch. He has very traditional methods of making as well as using new ones. I am intending to explore and discuss all of this over the up and coming blogs. For the moment, I am just trying out bite sizes of blogging to get a feel myself of the clay I am working with…technology! not so natural but my own little bit of creativity!