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Sculptor turns his hand to metal Combining his love of science and art, Auckland sculptor John Edgar has been working with metal transformed by chemical processes. Some of his pieces are in his current exhibition at Fluxus Gallery. His previous exhibition at the gallery two years ago included stones inset with glass, and much of his earlier work has been in stone. Edgar said he now wanted to spend time working with metals and intended to relate the two materials later. At present metal expressed things that stone could not. The quality of light it reflected was different, and it could be thin allowing bulky but not heavy works. His current works are small and they can be worn as badges. They are made from copper, silver or brass. Edgar cuts and solders together sheets of metal, then forges them to temper and give a roughness. Then he grinds and polishes them and treats them with chemicals which react with the metal, condition it and form a patina. "The effects are fortuitous. Many are crystalline, growing in microscopic patterns where the chemicals are most concentrated," he said."I treat both metals the same way and they react differently giving different effects. Copper might go dark blue and silver might not be effected. Some of them I just heat. Brass goes golden and copper goes very orange when it is heated." The patinae were difficult to reproduce and the process was mutable. "They are real one-offs. I'm not in control and I like that. It's different from stone. Stone does not play tricks on you. It's solid, honest, trustworthy. The patinae keep changing and the effects happen for some time after." He regards the small badges and the larger works in frames, as two-dimensional sculptures - emblems of travelling, evocative of journeys on a landscape and as travelers' protection or amulets. They are also reminiscent of flags with their geometric designs. Flags flew over the land and were signs of occupation and boundary markers, whereas stone was like the land itself. He intends to develop the theme, working both stone and metal together, perhaps with metal as a covering sheath, shield or protector. "I think it will be intriguing. I don't know how it's going to work out until it's done. I set myself this brief to synthesis the two over the next few years. It is fun to make and there are lots of processes available. I pick the ones I love and see where it leads."The processes he likes are fitting things together perfectly, forging with a hammer and anvil and the chemical treatment. He is a former research chemist. "I've always had in mind to bring my love of chemistry into my work. My love for geology comes through in my work in stone. I am more fascinated by science than art. I want to make science that is artful." |