Exhibition Feature: Clara Hali

Clara Hali: The Circle & The Square

Clara Hali: The Circle & the Square showcases a wide breadth of work by local sculptor Clara Hali. The title of the exhibition is derived from the basic building blocks in geometry, architecture and nature: the circle and the square; the cube and sphere. Hali loves the symbolism and sculptural opportunities that they offer.

Clara Hali is an established and widely exhibited sculptor with a lifelong interest in Asian art and philosophies. She was born in Indonesia and has travelled extensively throughout Asia and Europe, studying the sculpture of many different cultural traditions.

On exhibition from 26 Mar – 22 May.

Clara Hali in her studio

Interview with Clara

Clara you have been working with bronze, wood and ceramic for a long time. Can you tell us why you choose to work mainly with those materials? CH: Ceramics was my first love, starting in high school and progressing to my first degree. Then I became interested in bronze sculpture inspired by Indian figurative bronzes. They are both heavily processed methodologies which suits me fine. It gives me time to contemplate the work while making moulds and doing other process work. I got interested in carving wood, later, as a break from the process work. Carving for me is slow but direct. It is a process of reduction only, which I find challenging. As opposed to modelling clay and wax, which has the freedom to add and subtract, allowing errors to be easily adjusted. It helps exercise my mind and skills.

There is often an element of ‘balance’ in your work, using abstract blocks to create stacked body parts. Yet it appears as if this is equilibrium is only fleeting, and all could fall apart in a moment. Why is that? CH: Balance is one of the key elements of sculpture. Sculptors have to deal with that constantly. I think it is also a lovely metaphor for the human condition. For most of us life is a constant juggle between work and play, sickness and health, success and failure, even living and dying.

What do the geometric shapes of the circle & the square, the cube & the sphere mean to you? CH: I love shapes. The circle and the square, sphere and cube are fundamental geometric shapes. They are the building blocks of many shapes and structures. I like the purity of these forms. I also like the symbolism of these shapes. The square represents the material world. It has 4 straight lines which stop at the corners. It stops and starts several times till it gets to the beginning and then starts again. It reminds me of my life. Whereas the circle has no beginning and no end. It is infinite and eternal and represents the spiritual realm.

You have recently started to work with assemblages, which is a new working methodology for you. How did this come about and what do you enjoy about this process? CH: It came about because I found some really lovely items that looked, to me, like the top of Tibetan stupas. I didn’t want to copy them and cast them in bronze. I wanted to use them as they were, old and rusted. So assemblage was required. I’ve really enjoyed the process because it is so immediate. It’s been great getting out of my comfort zone.

I’ve also enjoyed playing with all sorts of found objects, including many different metals (mild steel, stainless steel, cast iron, bronze, brass, copper, silver, aluminium and tin), wood, stone and plastic.