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Norfolk Open Studios 2021
MEET THE ARTISTS
Norfolk Open Studios offers a unique opportunity to meet local artists and find out what inspires them, how they work, and what makes them tick. For a taster of the stories behind the art, here are some short profiles of four of this year’s Open Studios artists.
© Moseley Imagery
MARTIN PIGG 009 My artwork is the result of my love of nature, my understanding of trees and 21 years of learning. Part of my arboriculture training involved operating chainsaws. As soon as I picked one up I was more interested in what I could create rather than what I could cut down, I really enjoyed it. It has been a therapy for me, my escape from the real world. In 2002 I backpacked around New Zealand and fell in love with Maori art and in particular the Maori koru, a beautiful spiral symbol which symbolises new beginnings. It has a strong connection with what I do, as the wood I work with is from trees that have fallen or have died from pests or disease, and I give the tree ‘a new beginning’ as a sculpture. I use an electric chainsaw with a specialised carving bar and chain and now after 21 years my saw has become an extension of my arm. I can literally draw as an artist would draw with a pencil. As well as a chainsaw, I use traditional methods including chisel carving and hand sanding. My studio is an old duck shed where there are always upright sculptures at various stages. There is wood and old wood tools and machinery, and there’s always a layer of sawdust. It’s a mess and I love it!
