London Biennale 2021 beckons for city artist
Chichester-based artist Terry Merritt is delighted to have had one of his sculptures chosen for the London Biennale 2021 from July 1-4.
Terry, who sculpts in stone, graduated in art with sculpture at Chichester University in 2020. Now comes the London Biennale.
“I have been chosen along with 454 global artists to exhibit at this prestigious event, the second most important curated Art Biennale after Venice.”
The event is at Chelsea
Old Town Hall, King’s Road, Kensingston & Chelsea, London, SW3 5EE, free entry from Thursday, July 1-Sunday, July 4.
His chosen piece is entitled Embrace, a hand carved from
Gneiss stone (an extremely hard multi-coloured stone), which rotates freely on a white marble base for your selected viewing angle.
“I was born in Dorking, Surrey and now live in Chichester.
“My grandad, who I loved dearly, was a carpenter. He inspired me a lot. I remember studying woodwork at secondary school, making some furniture. I also remember how enjoyable technical drawing was at school.
“Diversity in my art works showed itself as an amateur cartoonist in my teenage years, which later developed towards portraiture and figurative art.
“Then I became an engineer and worked with various materials by designing and producing press tools and mould tools in three-dimensional forms.
“I achieved in any discipline because I loved whatever I did and I’m a perfectionist, but my desire in art increased immensely in my senior years. I realised that there was the unlived life within me: to enjoy doing arts in
24/7 and become an artist professionally. As I am overly critical of my own works, I decided to study fine art with sculpture at University of Chichester and achieved my BA hons diploma.
“I proudly say now that I am a professional sculptor who creates artworks with technical skill because of my engineering background.
“It didn’t take long for me to realise that I’m naturally drawn towards creating figurative artwork. I am inspired by the natural beauty of human anatomy, human gestures and movement.
“I see the human body in all sizes as a work of art.
In my creative process, I explore the human body combining curves, lines, and negative voids in the form of abstraction, semi-realism and sensual abstraction, some of which rotate on their bases. I enjoy experimenting with different themes, mediums and styles, although my main priority is stone carving, then wood carving.
“All my sculptures encourage the viewers to stop, look, touch and interact with.
“I have never stopped drawing. I enjoy life drawing. I also create figurative wire drawings. When I graduated from the University of Chichester during the time of the pandemic, I took it as an opportunity to create more sculptures; then I applied for London Art Biennale 2021.
“Anyone can follow me on my Instagram page: @ tm.sculptor.