Art

#portraits #sculpture #typography

Masks and Heads Made from Moveable Type and Steel Hardware by Dale Dunning

May 21, 2012

Christopher Jobson




Palimpsest. Aluminum. 27 x 18 x 9 inches



Redacted 1/1. Aluminum. 27 x 18 x 9 inches.



Soritical Maze 1/1. Steel. 28 x 17 x 11 inches.




Constellation 1/1. Steel. 26 x 28 x 18 inches.

Just last week Colossal featured the work of Hong Seong Jang who used the long aluminum sticks of moveable type to create miniature cities. Now we have the figurative sculptures of artist Dale Dunning who welds together lead type and other hardware to create intricate masks and heads. Of his work Dunning says:

The head that has been featured in my work for the last 13 years is a generic, simplified form not specific to gender, devoid of detail, resembling an egg. The head is universally recognized, easy to identify with. We live in our heads, see, feel, and experience the world in our head. It serves as the foundation upon which I can develop various paths to explore.

Though I’m struck by the the final shape of his figures, I find myself almost more intrigued by the processes Dunning must utilize to create them. I’m told that the last piece above, Constellation 1/1, is made from 900 welded bolts and washers and I can’t even imagine how one would embark on such a time-consuming process. You can see much more of his work here. All images courtesy Oeno Gallery. (via my amp goes to 11)

#portraits #sculpture #typography

 

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