Holding on…
Mirroring the complexity of the human experience, these anthropomorphic sculptural forms embody a profound and persistent desire to survive.
Each work captures a moment suspended between stillness and movement, much like the fragile pause of a dragonfly resting on a branch before taking flight again. The wings, poised with intention; speak to the remarkable symbolism of a creature capable of shifting direction at any moment (forward, backward, upward, sideways…) An embodiment of freedom, resilience, and the quiet courage required to navigate the unpredictable terrain of life.
In this poised anticipation, one can sense both the tension and the hope that mark every human transition, every choice that pulls us from one chapter into the next.
Beneath these delicate forms lies a deeper metaphor, one rooted (literally and figuratively) in the unseen systems that sustain life. The comparison between roots and the human brain stem forms a lyrical bridge between biology and experience.
Roots reach down into darkness, anchoring the plant, feeding it, stabilising it against even the fiercest elements. In much the same way, the brain stem holds us upright, directs our most instinctive responses, and keeps us tethered to the world around us.
These parallels invite us to consider the quiet forces shaping our path: the subconscious impulses, the deeply embedded instincts, and the choices formed long before we consciously name them.
Both root and brain operate out of sight, yet both determine, with remarkable sensitivity, the direction in which we grow.
The engraved details etched across the dragonfly wings add yet another layer of meaning. These markings resemble ancient inscriptions found on cave walls and weathered stone: evidence of humanity reaching across time to declare existence, presence, and endurance.
Through this gesture, the artist inscribes their own presence into the work, staking a claim to this moment, this place, this life: a soft yet powerful declaration of “I existed. I was here.”
These marks act as both a testament and a reminder that survival is not merely physical but emotional, creative and spiritual.
It is often our ability to pick ourselves up, brush ourselves off and move on that defines us.
Through the repetition of mirrored forms and natural motifs, the work draws our attention to the decisions that define us.
Just as a root must choose where to stretch and which direction offers nourishment, we too are constantly selecting our next step. Each movement: small or sweeping, creates a shift in our trajectory.
These sculptures ask us to consider the significance of these subtle turns, the way a life is shaped not only by bold leaps but also by the gentle, continuous redirections that happen almost imperceptibly. Growth, in all its quiet persistence, becomes an act of both instinct and intention.
Just as roots anchor and nourish a tree, echoing the way the brain stem grounds and sustains us. They become a metaphor for the instinctive choices that shape our path.
These unseen systems: the root and brain, remind us that stability and survival often begin beneath the surface, where our deepest decisions take form. These mirrored forms remind us that, just as roots decide where to grow, we too choose the directions our lives take, shaping our path through each deliberate movement.
