Sculptors at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show 2014: Gillian Govan

Power of some sort has a lot to do with it

"In art nothing is the result of pure will. Everything comes about through docile submission to the forces of the subconscious" – Odelon Redon

Preparing for the Show

Gillian Govan has been showing work at MIF&GS for a while now - here is her story of how her work came to life:

I enjoy the full process of creating art although I don’t think of it so much as a process but as an evolvement that begins with the first seed of an idea to be developed manipulated and built upon.

I work in a studio that is large and airy in the city. I have plenty of space to spread my work and store finished pieces. As with most artists it is not particularly tidy. I also make sculpture in a very large shed in a beautiful inspiring part of country Victoria.



I completed a diploma of Art and Design at Moorabbin Tafe in 1992 and Batchelor of Fine Art Degree in 1995. This training helped me to look at and understand the work of other artists, past and present and encouraged me to follow my instinct with my own work. It is difficult to pin point specific influences, as my work is so diverse in subject matter and the mediums I use. It is so varied that many artists and styles have influenced and inspired me, but mainly I draw on my own intuition and inner drive. Art is my passion but life is too short to do all I would like to do. Passion for making art does not always reap rewards but gives a wonderful inner satisfaction.

 I have had many turning points but I think the most significant was when I commenced my formal art education and was able to diversify my styles and make sculpture as well as paintings thus accepting that art is not specific to one particular form. Art is Creating.

Bracing the Elements Together

I joined the Association of Sculptors Victoria in 2001 and have exhibited works in most of their exhibitions. It has given me the opportunity to meet other sculptors and share our experiences.

My main focus is now working in Cold Bronze and Bronze and the works are mainly figurative. This year I am entering the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show with a small piece titled “Bracing the Elements Together”

Sculptors at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show 2014: Issa Ouattara

Issa Ouattara at work

Issa’s birth place in Cote d'Ivoire in West Africa has ancient animist roots which predate the arrival of Islam from across the Sahara and Christianity during the colonial era. The spiritual connection to the natural world are passed on through intergenerational stories, poems and music and are expressed in myriad sculptural forms in bronze and wood and are often incorporated in masks as well as architectural pillars, chairs and other functional objects. Unlike the static, emotionless, totemic figures seen in some other parts of the world, these are often evocative of profound emotions across the spectrum of grief, anger and joy.          

"Waves Upon Wave" Issa Ouattara

In his contemporary sculptural expression Issa draws on his West African cultural and artistic heritage as well as his life experience to create large figurative sculptures which evoke strong and positive feelings. The integration of the ‘old/ancient’ with the ‘new/now’ is subconscious but clearly present. The masculine media of mild steel is transformed to the feminine by Issa’s flowing forms including soft dynamic curves. While each piece is deeply personal embodying a part of Issa’s essence, Issa hopes that each sculpture can speak to its audience without accompanying narrative or explanation.

"Reflections" - Issa Ouattara

Sculptors at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show 2014: Todd Stuart

Todd Stuart is bringing his beautifully finished work to Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show for the third time now. Every year he's surprised us with a new idea.

Here he talks about one of his two works in the 2014 show:

ORGANIC PEBBLE’



I enjoy creating forms that have a desirable mix of emotions. I find that many shapes formed in nature contain this mix of emotions and that engage and inspire me. Take for example a pebble that has been shaped and polished after years on the floor of a river bed, it contains many compound and soft changing curves but also many different planes of shape. At first glance nature shows us an object that is harmonious, balanced & calming with its soft natural asymmetry. There is nothing aggressive or offensive. But then a second observation of emotions is experienced, subliminally there is a dynamic energy created from the many hidden angles & planes so cunningly hidden by nature’s soft curves & organic shaping.



It is by these same principles I believe we can also be inspired to create beautiful objects that bring us feelings of peace & harmony but also subliminally radiate a dynamic uplifting energy which can only be good for us to gain new effectiveness in our lives. I hope through my creations that I also may enhance the environments of others as they subliminally feel the benefits I have described above.

President's Letter for February 2014

Hi All,

I hope this note finds you all well and enjoying sculpture time. It is so hard to juggle our lives to find time to be creative, but I hope you are on track with work for the International Flower and Garden Show and then our Annual exhibition in August.

The February Meeting

How to move the work bench

The February Meeting
How many of us feel our expression is limited by our technical skills? In answer the January meeting was a come and try day at Andrew Bryant’s studio at Boneo.