IAN EDWARDS
Ian Edwards was born in 1974. He was brought up in Somerset where he first fell in love with the countryside that now influences his work. Having undertaken a 5 year apprenticeship at the world renowned G&H studios, the artist honed his wood carving technique and developed artistic fluency in sculpting form and movement. After exhibiting with the British Society of Wildlife Sculptors, Edwards’ work became extremely popular with many private collectors in America and Europe.
Inspired by the beauty of the countryside and natural world, Ian Edwards’ sculptures draw together earthy forest energy with the grace and complexity of the human spirit. These figurative sculptures are incredibly symbolic- often accompanied by succinct poetic descriptions. The skin surface of each piece is deliberately textured to imitate the bark, leaves and soil of the physical ‘outer world’, whilst each pose communicates the psychology of the ‘inner world’. His sculptures contort, wrestle and struggle against the elements, eventually resigned to the inevitability of returning to the dust they were made of. Like Kafka’s Metamorphosis the figures may be undergoing metaphorical changes- or actually becoming part of the earth, on their backs like beetles or reaching to the sun like shoots. In association with Hay Hill Gallery, two works by Ian Edwards were exhibited at the Berkeley Square Business Centre until the end of June 2014. Right in the heart of Mayfair, Berkeley Square is one of the West End’s best known business locations and its distinctive glass entrance and brick façade is the perfect setting for Edwards’ dramatic sculptures. The Calling seems to be forming in front of our eyes, pulling itself roughly out of the clay or molten lava. The dramatic posture and agonised expression suggest the pain of a newborn soul exposed to light for the first time. Edwards has given the skin the texture of the trees outside, the bark dappled, knotted and peeling. Similarly, The Root Within is a man becoming part of the dirt again, straitjacketed by vines that snake up around his legs. Roots entwine with veins and muscles; twisted and sinewy they seem to writhe as the man becomes tree, and the tree becomes man.
The Calling Bronze, edition of 24, 32 x 16 x18 cm Bronze, edition of 8, 65 x 33 x 35 cm Bronze, edition of 6, 185 x 90 cm
The Root Within Bronze, edition of 24, 38 x 12 cm Bronze, edition of 8, 75 x 23 x 21 cm Bronze, edition of 6, 220 x 70 cm
Leap Of Faith Bronze, edition of 24, 38 x 21 x 18 cm Bronze, edition of 8, 76 x 43 x 34 cm Bronze, edition of 8, 250 x 140 cm
Leap Of Faith Bronze, edition of 8 250 x 140 cm
Leap Of Faith (Wall Mounted) Bronze, edition of 12 79 x 32 x 52 cm
Life’s Wave Bronze, edition of 12 70 x 60 x 33 cm
Seed Of Life Bronze, edition of 8 50 x 32 cm
Transfiguration Bronze, edition of 8 60 x 31 x 18 cm
Fallen Bronze, edition of 8 50 x 35 x 19 cm
Within The Mire Bronze, edition of 8 55 x 45 cm
Within Unfolding (Maquette) Bronze, edition of 24 14 x 8 x 9 cm
The Arising Bronze, edition of 8 65 x 36 x 31 cm
The Draw (Maquette) Bronze, edition of 24 30 x 12 x 9.5 cm
Within Each Step Bronze, edition of 8 67 x 27 x 22 cm
Transcendence (Maquette) Bronze, edition of 24 38 x 10 x 10 cm
Creation Of Self Bronze, edition of 8 55 x 37 x 30 cm
Inspiration Bronze, edition of 8 94 x 34 x 36 cm
Born Of Fire Bronze, edition of 12 79 x 38 x 21 cm
Self Made Man Bronze, edition of 9 62 x 44 x 45 cm
Surrender Bronze, edition of 12 13 x 23 x 26 cm
The Hour Of Darkness Bronze, edition of 8 40 x 20 x 31 cm
The Sleeper Bronze, edition of 8 18 x 36 cm
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