Every metal object that existed in my desk drawer and was attracted to two magnetic spheres (painted gold) August 2019



Ephemeral sculptural object consisting of metal objects; safety pins, a paperclip, nail, screw hooks, razor blades, pins, a tweezer, rings, chain, magnetic spheres; painted gold acrylic enamel

There is a certain fragility about the work; not about the objects individually, for their materiality suggests physical stability, but the way they are connected, and drawn to each other. They are drawn together by magnetic properties, which will weaken over time. Eventually all the individual objects will no longer be connected, and will exist as separate entities. Thus the composition of this sculpture is ephemeral; a term I have usually associated with material disintegration, not with compositional arrangement.

The composition of this sculpture was determined over a period of time; I did not interfere nor physically engage with the arrangement. Rather, it came to my attention one day that two magnetic spheres existed in my desk drawer, and I knew that when movement of the drawer occurred (e.g. every time I opened or closed the drawer, or rummaged around such trying to find a certain object) movement of objects would also occur, increasing the probability that metal objects could become magnetically attracted to the sphere, and subsequently connected with each other. This happenstance can be interpreted as a microcosm of some wider beauty.

Thus the artwork is essentially a ‘found cluster of objects’ drawn together without my physical interception, but rather, by ‘natural’ forces in the drawer of my desk, initiated and realised by the artist. It is a matter of time before the sculpture disassembles itself.

N.B. This artwork has ceased to exist, 2021

Every metal object that existed in my desk drawer and was attracted to two magnetic spheres (painted gold) August 2019



Ephemeral sculptural object consisting of metal objects; safety pins, a paperclip, nail, screw hooks, razor blades, pins, a tweezer, rings, chain, magnetic spheres; painted gold acrylic enamel

There is a certain fragility about the work; not about the objects individually, for their materiality suggests physical stability, but the way they are connected, and drawn to each other. They are drawn together by magnetic properties, which will weaken over time. Eventually all the individual objects will no longer be connected, and will exist as separate entities. Thus the composition of this sculpture is ephemeral; a term I have usually associated with material disintegration, not with compositional arrangement.

The composition of this sculpture was determined over a period of time; I did not interfere nor physically engage with the arrangement. Rather, it came to my attention one day that two magnetic spheres existed in my desk drawer, and I knew that when movement of the drawer occurred (e.g. every time I opened or closed the drawer, or rummaged around such trying to find a certain object) movement of objects would also occur, increasing the probability that metal objects could become magnetically attracted to the sphere, and subsequently connected with each other. This happenstance can be interpreted as a microcosm of some wider beauty.

Thus the artwork is essentially a ‘found cluster of objects’ drawn together without my physical interception, but rather, by ‘natural’ forces in the drawer of my desk, initiated and realised by the artist. It is a matter of time before the sculpture disassembles itself.

N.B. This artwork has ceased to exist, 2021