“It is very much easier to distract by details. Sometimes the simpler something appears, the harder it has been to achieve. It is in my opinion very difficult to best nature, so, by using a somewhat animistic approach I try to peel away a skin to reveal what lies just below the surface. I'm not interested in treating the materials in a plastic manner; bending it to my will, and, as I get older and more confident of who I am and where I come from, I find the genetic legacies of my ancestors increasingly emerging in my attitudes and ultimately my goals.” Hew Chee Fong
2007-08-13

vessel



'vessel' © Hew Chee Fong 2007

basalt, granite and timber

139cm high x 38cm wide x 30 cm depth



A simple piece toying with shapes and balance.

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2007-08-08

keystone

'keystone' © Hew Chee Fong 2007
Basalt, granite and steel
61 cm high x 37.5 cm wide x 40 cm depth



This is a sort of 'mojo' rock. This could be read as me attempting to unlock the secrets of stone.

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2007-08-05

gossip

'gossip' © Hew Chee Fong 2007
basalt and water
20cm high x 60 cm wide x 53 cm depth



I've decided to call this piece 'gossip'.
Why?
It acknowledges the importance of communal meeting places of bygone eras in our society and ones that still exist today in parts of the third world. The enforced ritual of getting water and communal bathing strengthened the bonds within communities. Women gossiped when they washed their clothes, bathed their children and waited for their water pots to fill up. Today we have the convenience of running water in our own homes at the cost of being strangers to everyone else.

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2007-07-22

what does this remind you of ?


I worked on this piece of basalt about 6 weeks ago; got a flight of stairs carved out as though coming up from the basement. Then yesterday, I marked it out and started cutting into it.

Looking at this photograph reminds me of flying over a desert, occasionally coming across man made structures, boundary fences and mysterious calligraphy like markings. I think there is something there, a new idea to explore.

This piece of basalt was excavated from our property while we were constructing our house. It has a lovely natural brown skin/outer coating-perhaps caused by the mineral content of the soil on our mountain; yet the inside is an even, deep blue tone with a tight grain.

I like working with found material, whenever a piece is not "precious" I am automatically freed up from the guilt of making mistakes, taking chances and experimenting.

Half the time this is where new and fresh ideas originate from; so go on- pick up a rock and have a go at carving!



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stairway to heaven


There's been lots of interruptions these past two weeks, so it's been difficult to get into the right mind set. But I've finally got to the top- a total of 42 steps. The last 10 were a real challenge: narrow, with awkward angles to negotiate. I will leave this piece for a few weeks to allow for some detachment time and think about what finishes and textures to use.This is a view from the top looking back down into the block.

Below is another view of the block standing up as it is intended.The natural texture of the granite surface will be kept as this contrasts beautifully with the cut and processed areas.
This is an important aspect of my work/concepts/aesthetics.
To me; leaving at least some of materials' natural (original) surface is a sign of respect for its history and character-to which I'm just adding with the lightest possible touch.


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