Aparthide by Richard Arfsten
Aparthide was made about 30 years ago during the South African problems. The process I used to make this is kind of interesting. I was doing an apprenticeship in an art bronze casting foundry. I became fascinated by the very complex forms that are formed by pouring molten wax into water. As it cools all different kinds of shapes develop as the wax becomes a solid structure. It's kind of like Jack Frost on a window but a thousand times more three dimensional. When heating the ceramic shell molds to evacuate the wax in the lost wax process lots of wax is melted and drips into a big pan of water. One of these pours resulted in the African shape. I liked the form so I saved the form and cast it.
I work differently than most artists. Most artists know what they are going to make before they start. Most of the time I have no idea. I just play and after a while something starts to interest me and I follow the string. I had already made the head and somehow got the idea of combining the two. The "bird" was talking to me. I try to listen to the "bird". My grandmother would tell me to "learn to listen to the bird". And I would ask, "What is the 'Bird'?" "It is the little voice in your head that tells you things," she said. I guess that is how I make my art. I play and after a while the "Bird" might talk to me. Most important is to listen to it when it tells you to "Stop! The piece is finished!"
This is a wall piece.
I work differently than most artists. Most artists know what they are going to make before they start. Most of the time I have no idea. I just play and after a while something starts to interest me and I follow the string. I had already made the head and somehow got the idea of combining the two. The "bird" was talking to me. I try to listen to the "bird". My grandmother would tell me to "learn to listen to the bird". And I would ask, "What is the 'Bird'?" "It is the little voice in your head that tells you things," she said. I guess that is how I make my art. I play and after a while the "Bird" might talk to me. Most important is to listen to it when it tells you to "Stop! The piece is finished!"
This is a wall piece.