Lloyd Sale (He/Him)
I am a sculptor most recently working in the form of smelting. Over the past year I have created work almost exclusively in this medium. I only use recycled materials to form the work I make. My working process consists almost entirely of experimentation. Throughout all of the projects and mediums that I work with I will seek to find different ways of making.
My latest set of works are representations of natural forms in the form of copper. While most metals will rust over time copper acts as if it were a natural form. The copper at its current age will remain it’s shiny colourful complexity for at least a few months. The piece will slowly fade, change colour, and become a new representation of it’s previous self due to oxidisation. Just as in nature as everything grows, dies and changes – ‘Copper Bark’ will be a completely different piece in years to come.
Copper Bark
The project I have created this year has been a journey through the process of making. Specifically the deconstruction and reconstruction of copper through the form of smelting. Through an intense set of experiments I have created work which is able to actively reflect natural forms with uncontrolled complexity while being able to appreciate the material that it is. The final work shown is called Copper Bark. This piece is the final part of the project-“The Metallic Natural Series”- a full selection of similarly created artworks that helped form the idea for its making. This sculpture was casted in a handmade cast from a full length railway sleeper. The full extent of labour, uncontrolled impressions and textures achieved in this sculpture via the process of its creation is the focus of this artwork. In the exhibition space, the sculpture was given no description, only my name and a QR code. If the viewer decided to be curious they would be taken to my page where they were met with videos of the process and descriptions of its meaning. If the viewer decided not to be curious then the work would remain as a sculpture without description and be perceived by the individual. They may see it and give it whatever meaning they wish unless curiosity takes them forward.
Full description of piece:
Copper sculpture on reclaimed scaffolding boards. Black acrylic paint. Boiler coil. Molten metal scorched Railway sleeper. small crucible with copper pipe inside. Small copper piece beneath crucible.
The Metallic Natural Series
This collection of work is the centrepoint of a year’s worth of focus and endurance. Throughout the year I have developed a very distinct set of skills using the forge efficiently. Sustainably to a point using copper pipe and cut up copper hot water tanks. I was able to create work which re-created materials that could easily have ended up in landfill. The work reflects that which cannot be controlled. This uncontrollable aspect of the works are largely achieved by the process of making. This collection ends with the final artwork – Copper Bark. There are many techniques and forms of creating that i have implemented into the process largely by experiments in previous projects.
The following works will be divided into sections. The first section of works will be the earliest and for the most part basic representations of Metallic nature. The next section will be more developed including but not limited to much more experimental work. The last section will be a focus of finished work that required extensive planning and an individual creation procedure for each piece.