Simon Kessel

Simon Kessel on "Dancing Nymphs"

I have come to the theme of the dancing nymphs moved by the spontaneity and grace of my four young grand-daughters' play and its extension into their ballet. Their animation, flexibility and flow links to the dance of nature - trees and leaves choreographed by the wind.

I have admired Alberto Giacometti's (1901-1966) series of stick-like figures sculpted stationary (standing) or showing minimal movement (walking, staggering). I studied the use of found pieces popularised and used extensively by Picasso ("Woman" 1930, "Bird Large" 1942 and "Woman with Baby Carriage" 1952).

Both these great artists in simplifying the human form and depicting it using familiar objects paid tribute to the human form without anthropomorphic vanity.

Our Australian bush yields treasures in its twigs and leaves. Collecting them and giving them a meaning and permanence in bronze does justice to both nature and dance. The twigs and leaves are products of their genetics and their interaction with their environment. Humans similarly are genetically defined, shaped by environment, engage in a life phase to be ultimately recycled and replaced.

I commenced my formal education in art at Monash University in my fifth decade, appreciative of the opportunity and open to the influence of my teachers - Geoffrey Bartlett, Anthony Pryor, Cole Sopov, Les Kossatz - and sculptors they introduced me to. Moving from painting to sculpture I completed my bachelors and masters degrees in art.

My master’s thesis on Monumental and Holocaust Studies (2002) drew from the sadness and respect of the past and a lost European world. This series moves to Australia and the freedom and joy of a new world and its future generations.

I enjoy this chance to share my work. I note and appreciate the patronage my work has received from public institutions and private collectors:

A community-sponsored Holocaust memorial to the town of Mlawa in Poland at Springvale Cemetery;
A tribute to youth ("Children Playing") at the Emmy Monash Homes;
A garden sculpture ("Mother and Child") at the Freemasons Hospital;
The "Tree of Life" at the Jewish Museum in Adelaide (marquette presented to Prime Minister John Howard); and
Pieces in private collections ("Standing Woman" - JGL Collection).

Now in this series I hope my use of incidental forms from nature brings us to the simple beauty and utility that exist around us if only we notice.

Melbourne 2009