Art & Culture
ARTIST AT WORK
No.35: Martin Galbavy, Corona Giant 140,000 ball bearings, 3.5 Metres, £30,000
O
riginally from Slovakia, Martin Galbavy moved to the UK 12 years ago to work for a local company. Here he met fabricator, Chris Hannam who then started Dorset Forge & Fabrication and Martin joined him a few years later. His first sculpture was of a horse’s head and his varied repertoire has grown from there to include a 4-metre dragon (he was once asked if it was life-sized!) to his most famous work, a World War One soldier entitled The Haunting. This drew attention from the media at home and abroad. It was then taken to Ireland for the 100-year centenary celebrations in Dublin where the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team laid a wreath at its feet. This led to further commissions around the country. Martin and Chris have regularly featured in Quest and Discovery Channel’s Scrap Kings. During the first lockdown Martin created Corona Giant out of 140,000 ball bearings individually welded together. Working with scrap metal for his commissions he also, if possible, uses tools that have had a sentimental value to the customer. His latest works are on display at the recently opened Elm Yard Gallery, North Wootton near Sherborne. @elmyardgallery dorsetforgeandfabrication.co.uk
6 | Sherborne Times | October 2021
