This series of sculpture works to explore the relationship between the abstract body and internal emotional landscapes, using traditional aspects of British sculpture. With reference to British sculptural giants Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth, my work combines traditional aesthetics with the absurd – explosions of colour and texture depicting the tumultuous landscapes found within ourselves during times of growth.

The different scales of work allowed me to practice the fabrication of the sculpture, whilst also providing opportunity to explore different methods of display. The smaller free standing pieces have “legs” which make them appear animated and lively.

The connection to traditional British sculpture stems both from the use of the plinth and piercings. Plinths have been used throughout history to add monumentality to the structures which sit upon them. However, in recent times, the plinth seems to have been used almost as an afterthought – an easy way of displaying work without care for the contextual messages behind the history.

With the sculptures seen here, the plinth has been purposefully used in order to highlight the importance behind the meaning of the sculptures – to pay attention to ones own internal state whilst also providing a practical means of displaying the sculptures at an appropriate height. The piercings are the holes through the sculpture. Used as a means of re-directing the gaze away from the internal landscape, they provide windows to the space in which the sculptures are set.

The sculptures themselves are a record of their own creation – a visual representation of the journey that was undertaken in the process. The bold colours provide an absurdity and playfulness to contrast the subdued aspect of the white box underneath. Inspired by Franz West’s approach to work in the gallery, my sculpture is direct, without expectations of clean lines or a polished finish. Instead, they show the process involved through the hand plastered outer shell – highlighting the human interaction and care that took place during their creation.