Helen’s aluminium birds soar in Minerva
Sculptor Helen Solly transforms sheet metal into animated flowing forms, creating a sense of movement using abstract shapes.
Her new work, now on display in the Minerva Theatre foyer atrium, was inspired by a starling murmuration she saw from Brighton pier.
The piece will remain in place all summer, but its installation has coincided with the opening play of the main-house season, Kate Mosse’s new bird-themed play The Taxidermist’s Daughter.
Helen, who lives in Chichester, gained a firstclass fine art with sculpture degree from Chichester University.
She takes inspiration from nature in Sussex, she explains.
“The piece is up in the Minerva foyer upstairs over the stairwell and it sits really nicely there with the light. It looks like the birds are flying up to the window.
“I had worked with the theatre already and had been in contact with them over other things.
“This was a piece that I had already done but it really fitted well in the space and also with the theme of the play. I do think it looks really good there and it will be up all summer and then after that if anyone wants to buy it or show it elsewhere that would be great.
“Originally I was on Brighton pier and you see all the birds there, the starlings that are whizzing around.
“I saw them there but really it could be anywhere local. I love to walk in Fishbourne and Pagham Harbour where you see all the birds there and it is just so beautiful.
“Quite often I make things that are quite abstract but that give the impression of birds without being realistic representations of them. What I loved was the sweeping movement.
It’s about trying to get movement into something that is obviously static such as sculpture.
“But these are aluminium. “It had to be light but it’s about trying to get a sense of movement from a piece of metal and that is the challenge.
“I graduated from Chichester a couple years ago I did the fine art degree and I specialised in sculpture. It was good there.
“I made some bronzes and some smaller bronze pieces and I also did some welding.
“You’re introduced to a lot of different mediums and you try all sorts of things and then I specialised in metal.
“I was in fashion originally and then I married and I had four kids. They are all teenagers ranging from 13 to 19 which has kept me busy! I would be at university all day, come home, make the dinner and then write an essay.
“It was quite hard work! I did fashion modelling when I was young enough to do it and I got distracted first time round with the lure of travel and money and fashion but going to university was just something that I had always wanted to do. It was something I’d always wanted to get back to.”
Helen is also showing at: Ramster Gardens, Surrey April 22-June 5; Fresh Air Sculpture, Cirencester, June 5- 26; Standen House and Garden, East Grinstead, June 24-July 24.