Tom Stogdon (1964-)
| I was born into a fourth generation of greengrocers in Bloomsbury, London and worked in the fruit trade until 1998. My original foray into sculpture began by constructing elaborate pieces using the fruit; life-sized people, furniture and abstract shapes, the relevance of this being the intricate nature of my current work, due to years spent selecting shapes and sizes and colours. I became frustrated with the ephemeral nature of the fruit and felt people were not taking the work seriously and as a consequence started to explore other materials. In my practice I now work with stone, metal, and sometimes when I have the opportunity, plants, if there is not the need for longevity. Elements of the original construction process with fruit still have much significance in my work today. The pieces I make vary in size and stature, but each is made up of many smaller component parts, which are in turn wrestled into a larger containing space. I am particularly interested in the natural influences of water and time on materials and an important part of my practice is the accelerating of this abrasive process. I do feel compelled to make the work that I do, and while I still do not know why, I hope that my pieces have engaged people on many levels. Repetition and movement are important elements and I always hope to achieve a strong sense of calm. Having always lived in London - I still feel its influence is significant in my sculpture. |
