'Tempio' Sculptures

The Italian art movement Arte Povera really intrigues me. Quite literally it means 'poor art' or maybe the idea of using 'poor'/'non art' media. Artists of the movement intentionally used everyday simple found objects, materials and the environment reconfiguring and manipulating these to add meaning, content and purpose.


These simple sculptures are made from cheap and discarded timber (packaging radiata pine and cypress pine off cuts). They are representations of the human body and the sense in which the physical human body houses something even more profound within its walls.


They expose the thought that even though our bodies decay and will come to an end our spirit and soul endure forever. The external facades also hide that which dwells within. The use of gold and copper in contrast to the iron ore paint also hint at the precious and the decaying.


Tempio I and II are currently on exhibition at Linden Gallery in St Kilda, Melbourne as part of the annual Linden Postcard Show Exhibition http:www.lindenarts.org/






 

Tempio I Acrylic on Timber 15 x 15(w) x 30(h)cm 2008 



Tempio IV Acrylic on Timber 15 x 15(w) x 35(h)cm 2008 



Tempio II Acrylic on Timber 15 x 18(w) x 30(h)cm 2008