Price €6,500 , 1.55m high, 1.50m diameter.

Sculpture in Context 2011 at The National Botanic Gardens

I find the science behind our ordinary lives intriguing.  Take a simple soap bubble - it could not be more unassuming even childlike, yet bubbles give us a highly sophisticated glimpse into the world of physics, mathematics and chemistry.  Bubbles have more to do with molecules, geometry, minimal surface area, interference, light waves and surface tension than with child’s play.  Indeed, bubbles are a combination of two of my favourite things - spheres and water!  No matter what shape initially a bubble has, it will always try to become a sphere and much like a bubble I too have a very strong affinity to water.  My idea is to capture a moment in time where a group of newly formed bubbles might sit together to form a wonderful cluster of spheres.

Surface Tension was constructed using a highly grogged crank clay body and was high fired in an electric kiln.  Each of the 50 spheres was hand-built and carved using a sgraffito technique.  The flow of the lines was inspired by the Aurora Borealis.  This island is a particularly beautiful and peaceful part of the garden and it is my hope that the piece will seem to have ‘grown’ here.

About Sculpture in Context 2011:

This year Sculpture in Context celebrates its 26th anniversary at the National Botanic Gardens with its largest exhibition to-date. Over 120 sculptures by Irelands leading artists will be displayed throughout the Gardens, ponds, Great Palm House and Curvilinear Range, with the smaller works exhibited in the gallery above the Visitors Centre.  The magnificent grounds of the National Botanic Gardens have been home to this unique exhibition for the past eight years allowing both nature and art to fuse together to create a memorable visual experience.

Sculpture in Context was established in 1985 by a group of sculptors.  Their aim was to work on behalf of fellow sculptors to provide space for exhibiting work of sculptors in venues outside of their normal gallery context.  It has been successful in that aim over the years and has staged highly acclaimed shows each year at venues such as Fernhill Gardens, the Conrad Hotel, Kilmainham Gaol, the Irish Management Institute, Dublin Castle, Farmleigh House and The National Botanic Gardens.  Each year a different panel of selectors is invited to adjudicate this open submission exhibition, leading to an exciting mix of mediums and styles.