Emerging (2021)

Emerging, a mild steel structure, stands at 120 cm in height. The harmony and balance created by the leaf-like vertical structure which surges upwards, its two distinctive sides joined by an intricate web of stainless-steel wires tightly stretched across it, partly reveals Barbara Hepworth’s influence when it comes to her use of steel pillars and webs.

Inspired by the spikey flowers of bromeliads, whose astonishing variety of 200 plus plants belonging to the same genus has been familiar to the artist for decades, combined with his direct observation of various types of spider webs stretching across leaves and twigs, Emerging helps the artist breach the ubiquitous gap between nature and culture once again.

Up close, the solid external frame alludes to the overlapping of growing leaves thanks to the molding of recycled steel sheets into concave shapes. A series of wires intersect and weave in the center of the piece, in a manner reminiscent of both spider webs and structural engineering, ambushing the space beyond, while stressing a coherent balance by joining the two main leaves.

Emerging is also read as the abstract evocation of an old-fashioned lyre, whose cords remain the essential building blocks of harmony, equally capable of dissonance or consonance. Overall, the work’s dynamic movement conveys flight and freedom, stretching upwards to allow a new form to emerge.