Abstractions of the human form
from The Palette Pages
We are honoured to feature the stupendous
artwork of Sam Shendi an incredible talent that we are totally captivated
by. Graduating in 1997 with a first
class BA degree with honors from Helwen University of Fine Arts in Cairo,
Egyptian born sculptor Sam Shendi creates colourful abstractions of the human
form that hints at the complexity of human interactions. We first discovered Sam after seeing his work
‘The Branch’ a sculpture that is smooth, sexy and stylish with a rigid
formality that is combined with the freeness and flight of the female form and
a bird, work that is impactful in a way that is typical of Sam. The sculptures that Sam creates are
generating worldwide attention, he was winner of the £10,000 opportunity to
create a new piece of public sculpture—the FIRST@108 Public Art Award and his
work is being exhibited widely throughout the UK and collected worldwide. Blurring the line between representation and
abstraction Sam creates work that is playful and universal in appeal, work that
leans towards his background in monumental sculpture. Mixing bold colour blocks or monochrome into
his work and often conjuring associations with children’s toys Sam’s work is
loved by all generations. The simplicity
of form, the curves, the sharp edges and the beautiful transformation of
industrial material all mixed with dramatic and emotive stories make the
sculptures intriguing, unique and totally inspiring. Sam we love your art, your craftmanship and
your passion. We are proud to feature you on The Palette Pages and
are exceptionally excited to follow your journey as an artist making your
unique mark on the art world.
Self taught or art school?
Faculty
of Fine Arts Cairo graduated in 1997 with a first class BA degree(hons) in
Monumental and architectural sculpture.
If you could own one work of art what would it
be?
mmmmm…”De
Nachtwacht” (The night watch) by Rembrandt.
Is there meaning behind your use of colour
within your sculpture?
I use
colours to present mood, movement, feelings, emotion, differences. Colour for
me is the final touches to my concepts and completes the sculpture.
Is it important for you to have your own
distinctive style?
Yes, I
think so. It has taken me over 12 years to achieve my style, in my opinion it
it is very important for the art work to give recognition to the artist.
How much does your background and upbringing
in Egypt influence your art?
The
influence of Ancient Egyptian practice has influenced my work. I always try to
use strong material and mathematic geometric design to make the sculpture last
for a long time after me and I believe that the Ancient Egyptians used the same
method, that’s why the monuments and artefacts have lasted all this time. Most of my inspiration and ideas are from my
own experience that I have lived or felt in my life in Egypt.
How would you describe your style?
Minimalistic,
figurative, colourful. I want to find the most minimalistic way to present the
human figure but without loosing the visual engagement and the emotional depth
behind the concept.
Can you tell us more about the techniques you
use to create you art?
I work
mostly with metal therefore welding and folding, techniques are used. Then the
process of hours of sanding and grinding to prepare the surfaces to then apply
the paint. After this the paint needs flattening to get rid of any
imperfections and marks and then highly polished to give you a mirrored
reflection.
Where are your favourite places to view art?
The
truth is I tried for along period of time to avoid galleries and museums, as
much as I would love to visit, somehow my visions get affected and influenced
by other artists and art work. For me any place which shows an art work is
important. You could be anywhere regardless of location or venue and see an
amazing piece.
Who are your favourite artists and why?
I could
write a list…..I would need another 10 interviews. There are many artists that
touch me when I see the work. Some of them in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s
but truly I have met in the past few years some artists who are established and
trying to establish themselves, that have had a bigger impact on me more than
the famous ones.
What or who inspires your art?
Inspiration
for me could be anything. It is enough for me to open my eyes and the
inspiration is all around. Could be a person or a view or an idea or an
experience. No matter where it comes from, it comes from human beings and
humanity.
Where’s your studio and what’s it like?
My
studio is in a small village in the countryside of Yorkshire hidden from the
world by giant trees. When you go inside it feels like you have stepped into a
sweetshop, like a giant toy box, full of sculptures.
Do you have any studio rituals?
I don’t
have any rituals. Normally I have a few sculptures on the go and I want to find
the fastest way to get them finished and start again. Sometimes I just go to
clean and tidy.
What are you working on currently?
I am
working on a body of 14 sculptures at the moment. They could be shown
individually but 11 of them could be exhibited together as one concept. This is
the first time I have worked on such a large number of sculptures at the same
time.
Where can we buy your art?
A few
places currently sell my work and a few agents but the best price is buying
from me direct.
What are your ambitions?
I am
hoping one day that future generations will speak about me in the way that past
artists are spoken of and maybe my work will influence somebody years from now.
Sam Shendi | Selection of works here
An interview by Lisa Gray
Originally published in The Palette Pages
The Palette Pages website www.thepalettepages.com
© 2014 Lisa Gray
NAU NUA | ART MAGAZINE edition by Juan Carlos Romero
Interview and photograph courtesy of Lisa Gray
Sam Shendi website www.samshendi.co.uk
All rights reserved