About
Finding Inspiration in the Broken
Energy is never lost, only transformed. This fundamental law underpins our reality, a ceaseless cosmic cycle. My inquiries are merely a scratch in this grand process, revealing the inherent, ever-present 're' energy—the potential and inspiration found in the broken. We creators are alchemists: we shapeshift, readjust, and resharpen our tools. We embrace the breaking apart, for it is the necessary precursor to true wholeness and the creation of the new.
and why all the black you ask?
A beautiful insight came to me in the stories from this new land that I find myself in. I have always felt a connection to the colour, not in a morbid sense, not in a grieving or gothic manner, though. I heard that in Māori culture, black symbolises potential, and this resonates with me deeply. I mean, there was light first and then the dark, and that made the light really shine. Either way, it works its magic in holding these little words, which is what is needed right now.
Origins
To provide some context, Simon Max Bannister spent much of his life in South Africa. There he found the spirit of his creative practice in the bushveld, its cryptic dusty landscapes and wild intelligence. After exploring many materials and site specific land art processes, he found his fascination with metal in the collective studios of the old Bronze Age foundry.
He moved to New Zealand in 2018 after being intrigued by the dramatic beauty of the islands, mountains, its stories, and the profound reverence for nature's rights.
In his artistic practice, Bannister employs a distinctive bronze casting technique to express his concerns about habitat and species loss. Working predominantly with wood and metal, he creates ephemeral sculptures that poignantly reflect the precarious state of being.
STATEMENT
Sculptor Simon Max Bannister creates powerful works that celebrate the fragility and strength of nature. For his bronze creations, he gathers wood splinters, resembling bone and sinew, from forestry clearcuts. Using a lost-wax technique, these fragments are shaped into indigenous birds and wings. The wood is incinerated, forming the mold to immortalize species in bronze. His corten outdoor steel sculptures transform industrial iron into wilder forms, embodying nature's restorative power. Positioned as guardians, these pieces seamlessly integrate into the landscape, serving as a poignant tribute and a reminder of the urgent need for preservation.
