Tim specialises in large-scale outdoor Sculptural works, his work draws its inspiration from the surrounding landscape and where possible uses indigenous natural materials, in combination with recycled or engineered parts.
Tim has a range of experience in both exhibiting and constructing commissioned work in the landscape. A proven track record of Commissions and Residencies, Including, Artist in Residence at The Irwell Sculpture Trail, The Grizedale Forest, and The National Cycle Network.
Rather than produce solely Furniture or Sculpture he creates inspirational environments for the public to relax, chat and enjoy.
Tim has run a wide range of workshops in many different settings. Working on site with groups, constructing large sculptures to running one-day workshops in schools and Community centres.
The Journey was built for I Park, during my period as an Artist in Residence, culminating in the 2013 Environmental Art Biennale. I Park invites artists to retreat and respond to its unique landscape.
The form is constructed around a welded steel armature built from reclaimed reinforcement bar, ( I Park was formally an Architectural Salvage Yard there remains huge amounts of scrap metal and other materials available on hand.)
The steel armature is clad in a hard shell of Red oak bark, harvested from a 300 year old windblown oak. this surface conceals a soft underbelly of living moss, a luscious soft nest like interior. This layered globe reminiscent of the Earth, evokes ideas of protection or shelter.
The German biologist and philosopher Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919) first advocated the concept of a biotope – an area where life lives, a biological community. His beautiful lithographic plates in his book ‘Kunstformen der Natur’ show a multitude of microscopic life forms with astonishing clarity. By magnifying these natural forms, too small to see with the naked eye, Haeckel’s’ illustrations help emphasise our fragile and complex relationship to all living things.
Inspired by modern botanical photographs of Wild Bee Pollen, taken with a scanning electron microscope at Darmstadts University, I wanted to communicate this same sense of awe and wonder. I wanted to record and reveal the complex, and fragile structural characteristics of wild bee pollen as a symbol of Darmstadt’s varied and fascinating flora and fauna and reflect on the symbiotic relationship between the ‘site and the materials’.
The sculptures form, size and materials, is dictated by its surroundings, for example the elevation of the land, the spacing of the trees and the quality of the light. The tough outer shell is made from Birch bark collected from the forest floor. Willow and steel was used to create the structural framework. A circular, woven, willow seat, wraps around the internal wall.
This work is an interactive sculptural ‘Habitat’. A communal ‘Life Place’ or ‘Biotope’ (bios = ‘life‘ and topos = ‘place‘) that allows the viewer/s to wander inside and around the ‘Sculptural Form’. This is a ‘place’ of contemplation or ‘gathering space’, lit by the dappled light of the forest, where one can rest within its shelter before moving on.
The sculpture has been inspired by the fascinating shapes of the Neuron and how it transmits information through electrical and chemical signals.
The work Neural Nature has roots to spread and make connections with the forest. The roots (neurites) encircle the cell with a dynamic motion and create a sense of movement and energy around the cell nucleus. The nucleus can be climbed inside to rest, contemplate and create your own inspirational thoughts and pass on your energy to the network.
The work is created from bamboo and woven into a structure of welded steel bar. This work is part of the exhibition “Flowing Inspiration” on the Yu Lei Mountain path.
The sculpture is open to the public all year round and is curated by the International Forest Art Group.
The ‘Forest Wave Shelter’ is made from branches collected during the thinning of the forest at Mount Yionmi. The shelter takes the form of a ‘Wave’ rising from the ground. Waves (water, sound and light waves) are a powerful force, never static, constantly evolving, and ephemeral – like art in nature – like this work itself. The sculptures form, size, and materials, is dictated by its surroundings, for example the elevation of the land, the spacing of the trees and the quality of the light. The tough outer shell is made from sweet chestnut branches. Steel was used to create the structural framework. The internal space is reminiscent of the inside of a chestnut shell, the inner wall is hand stitched using canvas, sealed with a protective vanish, which wraps around the internal wall. This technique has been influenced by the artists’ own experiments working with wooden canvas canoes. This work is an interactive sculptural ‘Shelter that allows the viewer/s to wander inside and around the ‘Sculptural Wave’. This is a ‘place’ of contemplation or ‘gathering space’, lit by the dappled light of the forest, where one can rest within its shelter before moving on. ‘I invite you to rest a while, contemplate, and take the time to notice of the everchanging world around you.
Photos by Caryn B Davis
Tree Weaver 