the studio 8 artists
Steve Sommerville		back to the studio 8 page

“My work seeks to explore the overlap between conceptual ideas and traditional media. I find that trying to balance these requirements, often leads to some interesting conflicts and unexpected outcomes in my work.

“I consider a lot of contemporary art to be agressive, unhappy, brutal and quite challenging to the viewer and I believe this alienates a large number of the public; I try to challenge this current trend in art and make art more accessible to the viewer.

“My work explores the idea that art can be quiet, contemplative and thoughtful. I aim to create a sense of visual balance, in my works that can invoke a sense of stillness and calm in the viewer. It seems to be the only answer I can offer to the current swathe of egotistical, dark, ironic, brutal and ultimately shallow viewpoint that seems to pervade modern society.

“Usually I begin developing ideas with both figurative and abstract drawing; and I find the drawing-as-thinking approach, to be an invaluable tool for developing ideas and concepts before moving into more a formal medium. I work primarily in stone, metal and wood as I find these forms have an inherent grace. Often I will begin with just these basic forms and then introduce synthetic materials to complement and contrast with the original form.

“I find that one of the most appealing concepts of Eastern thought is the idea of dualism, which ‘defines existence as the relationship between fundamental opposites….reality consists of the changing interactions between inseparable opposites – neither can exist without the other, together they form a coherent whole.’ I am particularly interested in the contrast between natural, organic forms/patterns and artificial forms and patterns.

“Artists that have strongly influenced my own practice are Piet Mondrian, Mark Rothko, Eva Hesse, Isamu Noguchi, Andy Goldsworthy and Henry Moore.

I am based in Newbury, West Berkshire and I am currently one of the resident artists at Studio 8, New Greenham Arts Center.”

Email: contact@stevesommerville.co.uk
Web: www.stevesommerville.co.uk

		'Stone and Wood' full screen
		'Stone, Metal and Wood' full screen
		'Stone, Metal and Wood 2' full screen
		'Ink on Paper' A1 full screen
		'Ink on Paper 2' A1 full screen
		'Conte on Paper' A2 full screen

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