Exhibitions

Material World by Johnny Turner
Work featured: 'Big Bang', by Johnny Turner, recycled Kairuru marble, 1600mm x 400mm x 400mm (hxwxd)

Material World - Johnny Turner

15 April to 04 May 2008

Wellington sculptor Johnny Turner shows deft touches and simple classical ingenuity in his latest exhibition Material World.

Turner works with volcanic and metamorphic rock (formed from intense pressure and heat over thousands of years), which initially form as a soft substance to become more refined over time. His stones are at once pure and condensed to an immense durability. The transformation and history of the materials Turner works with is fundamental to the objects he creates, as is the undertaking to transform these rich raw materials into enduring objects of art.

Turner’s passion for his medium drives him to undertake projects which have a monumental weight and scale. The artist’s attention to detail and his love for fine surface textures ensures that each piece is finished to a high degree. This involves laborious hours of hand polishing rather than relying on machinery. While mechanised labour is quicker it does not afford Turner the opportunity to invoke the sensual and tactile properties of the stone - an essential aspect of the work.

The sleekness of these works and their precise balance is testimony to the hand of the artist. The smooth, curving forms and mellifluous surfaces reference an ideal of organic perfection and the unquestionable beauty of nature.

View exhibition »
design: Beatnik   |   web development: NetPotential