42 Style | arts
Nature as Metaphor
Anne Hudson takes us on a journey through Jim Wheeler’s incredibly detailed bronze-casting sculpture, in which his technique and meticulous detail creates uncanny life-like objects. I like to think my preference in abstract art is where the artists freely express themselves. the mark or gesture is the result of some Zen-like moment of creativity. When looking at Jim Wheeler’s sculpture and its refined realism the same sense of wonderment is found, but there is no expressionist gesture here, but rather meticulous detail expressed with an exactitude that takes your breath away. the object is such an embodiment of the real object that one can only be amazed. his garden spade or fork if placed in a vegetable or flower plot could be mistaken for something left by the gardener. the bronze handle looks like an old oak handle, every grain showing the years of growth. the work is utterly convincing. Do not be mistaken into thinking this is mere copying of nature, here we have a true artist at work. Wheeler is originally from a small town in North Carolina and studied art and biology at university, focusing on how plant communities evolve, which informs his art practice today. Wheeler conceptualises the work through thinking and drawing then carefully executes the piece through the difficult
process of bronze casting. the central theme of Wheeler’s work is the contemplation of nature in its widest sense and how nature and humans are both participants of the natural world. these metaphors make us consider the complexity, beauty and balance of nature. he says that in essence his practice is a spiritual one in which he tries to demonstrate the interconnectedness of all living things and their interdependence within the environment. he views the natural world as a perfect system, one from which society and individuals can be inspired. Man can learn from nature and Wheeler’s work makes us aware and mindful of this connection. Narrative is not confined to text, despite that an artwork appears to be frozen in time. that garden spade and garden fork tell a story. From the handle, oak leaves grow entwining themselves around the piece. this is no modern implement sourced at the local hardware store but a carefully constructed copy of an english oak spade, which was brought to New Zealand by early British immigrants. used to dig the soil here, to help the family establish a home here, and then
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discarded for a more modern tool. Like the family, the life of the spade is not finished – the oak handle has taken root and grown foliage. It has been reborn in a new land – New Zealand – offering hope of a new future. this is a powerful metaphor of immigration and regeneration still relevant today. Wheeler is a well-respected sculptor who has exhibited widely in New Zealand and internationally. he works in a variety of scales, both large and small. his repertoire includes pieces such as tiny pohutukawa leaf, a medallion, or large works suitable for civic spaces and domestic gardens. Wheeler’s sculpture is thoughtful, beautiful and desirable. he is represented by artis Gallery and the Vivian in the auckland region and has exhibited locally at art in Garden. Wheeler lives in auckland with his wife and daughter.
Do not be mistaken into thinking this is mere copying of nature, here we have a true artist at work. – Anne Hudson
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