About
Finding Inspiration in the Broken
Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred from one form to another. That's a fundamental law of this realm and that's quite a good place to start. I see myself as a very small fragment of this cyclical nature of the cosmic sculptural process. This 're' energy is ever present, inspiration and potential are everywhere, but especially in the broken pieces as our feet. This may sound a little dire though, why the need to care? Just keep breaking things apart, how can it work? Well, that's where it gets interesting, I have experienced the creative embers can't help but move the hand to shape and reform, it's part of the inherent calling, the gravity of reality, the transformation of energy. We creatives, we shapeshift, adjust, and finetune our direction. And then it all gets broken apart again.
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.
In his smaller bronze sculptures, Bannister assembles wood splinters, resembling feathers, bone, and sinew, collected from sawmills and clearcuts frequented by him. Utilizing a unique lost cast technique, he uses these wooden fragments to construct indigenous birds, nests, and wings. The incineration of these shapes become the mould for the final bronze sculpture, immortalizing species that hold deep significance for him.
In his steel outdoor pieces, Bannister integrates industrial elements, transforming iron into wilder themes like skeletal armatures, nests, wings, feathers, and branches. These sculptures embody his passion for the reclaiming power of nature and belief in its restorative abilities. Positioned as guardians of the land, he hopes these artworks bring bold attention to the larger environment as they seamlessly integrate into the landscape.
Bannister’s work, blending wood and metal, carries a powerful essence that captures both the eye and the heart. His bird forms, crafted in this dynamic language, capture the strength of character and fragility of each species. Each sculpture serves as a respectful tribute to natural beauty and a poignant reminder of the imperative need to preserve it.
