Stone Circle, wood, hard foam, wool, resin and handmade flower pigments: roses and chrysanthemums,
90 x 90 x 11 cm, 2025.
The 'Stone Circle' sculpture celebrates the mysticism of rock sites, which permeate our ancestral spiritual past and collective consciousness. My visits to various stone circles across the UK, both small and megalithic structures, sparked a fascination with their intended purpose, much of which remains debated among archaeologists and antiquarians. It has been proven that these stone monuments were built with precise alignment to the movements of the sun and the moon. They served as important sacred sites where our ancestors and religious groups, such as the Druids, congregated to ask for blessings, give thanks, connect with the divine, conduct funerary rites, and celebrate various ceremonies. Although little is known about the specific events that took place, it is this deep mystery and the loss of information that inspired the creation of the ‘Stone Circle’ sculpture.
Reflecting the effects of time on physical rock sites, the rocks in my 'Stone Circle' sculpture appear to have shifted from their original perfect circular arrangement into a slightly crooked formation. This change mirrors how stones in actual stone circle sites have sunk into the ground over centuries, tipped over, or been moved or stolen by people. These sites are not only in constant energetic movement but also undergoing physical transformation. The three closely placed stones at the top left represent the ‘sacrificial stones’ found in stone circles, which were likely dedicated to animal and possibly human sacrifices. The activities associated with these rituals are shrouded in mystery, often coloured by folklore, legends, and representations in films and popular culture that link them to death, the devil, and witches. However, it is highly likely that these significant sites were also filled with joy and communal activities such as singing, dancing, and storytelling.
'Stone Circle' marks my first sculpture utilizing a new natural dye application in the form of handmade flower pigments layered throughout the resin application process. The buildup of colours creates a blurred softness that resembles moss. The act of sprinkling the flower pigment mimics the tradition of throwing flower petals during a ritual ceremony. Roses, in particular, hold multiple meanings in witchcraft and modern spell-making. The pattern created by the white wool suggests ripples in water, topography, or meditative practices like sand art from the East. Within my art practice, there is an appreciation for, and an unconscious blurring of boundaries between, the West and East, both of which share the same language of symbols in the physical and spiritual realms.
Additionally, the sculpture takes on a circular shape framed by loose white wool that extends from the edges. The base design is inspired by hand-held shields from the Bronze Age. The shield shape symbolizes the protected and hidden knowledge associated with stone sites and spiritual locations in general. The viewer can interpret the shield in two ways: as something they can 'use' for personal protection or as a barrier that keeps knowledge hidden from them. The extended white wool also gives the sculpture a sun-like appearance, referencing the importance of the sun, which ‘activates’ the stone circle once a year on the Summer Solstice.
