Burnt Wood Idols

These figurative works are, in many ways, similar in approach to the Raku Horses that are shown on another page of this site. The human forms are simplified and idealized in ways that are reminiscent of Archaic Greek and Egyptian sculpture. The seemingly static forms have a quiet and even disturbing presence and confront the viewer head on. The earthy, weathered and burnt qualities of the surface suggest the possibility that these are archaeological objects that have survived and resurfaced as traces from another time. Were they children's toys, or were they survival and spiritual offerings to deities?

The heads can be turned to animate the forms as if they have been startled by an unexpected guest or as if they are gesturing to connect with a nearby companion sculpture. Both passive and animated, static and gestural, ancient and modern, militaristic and generic they live in an ambiguous parallel universe.