SCULPTURE
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This seven and a half minute video shows how I make one of my podform sculptures in sheet bronze using traditional silversmithing techniques.
Séamus Gill’s sculptures have evolved using traditional silversmithing skills to creating finely crafted works of art in sheet bronze.
His sculptural work is all about the joy of working directly in bronze. Each piece is cut from a flat sheet of bronze, then formed into an elegant three dimensional sculpture with the skilful use of a hammer and anvil. Using bronze with a very high copper content that has working qualities very close to silver he is able to use his silversmithing skills to form the bronze in his unique way of working.
He is guided by the making process, with influences coming from early Irish Bronze age, to European abstract sculpture to observing the structure and the natural growth patterns of plants. His work is usually created in related groups or he often returns to constantly evolving themes.
His sculptures are finished by patinating the bronze in soft muted colours, with selective areas highly polished and often gold plated. The patinated areas are finished by waxing and the polished areas are lacquered ensuring the finish is preserved.
“Sleek sinuous and sculptural forms….nothing short of stunning”
Gemma Tipton, The Irish Times
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Height 44cm 2019 A wall mounted sculpture based on a floral arrangement with a gold-plated pod on one stem and silver lily like shapes on the other two stems. Exhibited at Sculpture in Context at the Botanic Gardens
Height 51-52cm 750 Euro each (#3 no longer available) Four sculptures based on the growing movement of a leaf shape opening up. The first on the left is just opening up to the last on the right is fully opened and starting to fold back on itself.
Height 47cm and 29cm 2018 Two red podforms both with a raised polished rib curving up the base where two domed sections are joined together to form the base of the podform. The one on the right has a gold plated ruffle on the top to the podform. Exhibited at Sculpture in Context in the Botanic Gardens in Dublin.
Height 51cm and 58cm 2018 Two tall red podforms both with a raised polished rib curving up the base where two domed sections are joined together to form the base of the podform. Exhibited at textures exhibition in the Kilkenny Design Centre, Kilkenny.
Height 50cm to 55cm 2017 Three wall mounted bronze sculptures exploring the evolving growing pattern of a spiral from a budding pod on the left to a evolving leaf shape to a gold plated crimped flower on the right. Exhibited at Sculpture in Context in the Botanic Gardens in Dublin
Height 38 to 40cm 2016 Three ribbed podforms growing into a blooming gold plated crimped flower form with a small silver detail. Exhibited at Sculpture in Context in the botanic Gardens in Dublin
Height 25cm Mounted on 1.5 meter poles 2016 These five red bronze spirals were mounted on long 1.5meter wooden poles. They were exhibited in the Sculpture Garden at Bloom.
Height 25cm Mounted on 1.5 meter poles 2016 Detail of one of the bronze sculptures exhibited in the Sculpture Garden at Bloom
Height 32cm to 47cm 2015 Four low domed podforms capturing the idea of growth movement in plants. They grow from the swirling stem on the left through to the budding pod, then the maturing leaf and finally the waning leaf.
Height 42 - 47cm 2015 Four smaller red pod forms evolving in shape that are wall mounted.
Height 2015 Tall red podform with a raised polished rib curving up the base where two domed sections are joined together to form the base of the podform. Exhibited at the Art Fair, RDS Dublin
Height 74cm 2014 Wall mounted podform Exhibited at Bloom and the Hamilton Gallery
Height 70cm 2014 Wall mounted intertwining podform Exhibited at Bloom and the RDS Art Fair
Height 150cm 2014 These three bronze plant forms are based on the expanding firework shape of the agapanthus flower. They are made in sheet bronze mounted in a stainless steel frame. They were exhibited in front of the agapanthus flowers by the curvilinear greenhouse in the Botanic Gardens at Sculpture in Context.
Height 45cm to 46cm 2013 Three bronze sculptures based on orchids Exhibited at Sculpture in Context in the Botanic Gardens, Dublin
Detail showing the silver and gold plated silver flowers on the three bronze sculptures based on orchids Exhibited at Sculpture in Context in the Botanic Gardens, Dublin
Height 51 -52cm 2013 Three podforms growing up to a blooming silver flower
Height 22-43cm 2012 These three plant forms explore the budding and growth patterns of three stages of a plant form. Exhibited at sculpture in context in 2012
Height 80 - 88cm 2011 Three bronze sculptures based on orchids that hang on the wall.
Height 50 - 59cm 2010 Three bronze sculptures based on orchids Exhibited at Sculpture in Context in the Botanic Gardens, Dublin
Width 85cm 2011 A large piece exploring how a podform would lean over as if it was blowing in the wind. It is mounted on a Kilkenny Marble base. The tip of this podform is a gold plated twisted silver made the same way as the ancient Irish gold torcs.
Height 55cm 2011 A carefully placed pinch and tuck at the base of this bronze sculpture allows it to securely stand in a gravity defying stance.
Height 65cm 2010 A podform that has a pinched rib on one side a folded in section on the opposite. A photograph of this piece was published in the "portfolio- critical selection" book by the Crafts Council of Ireland.
Height 59cm 2010 A photograph of this bronze and silver sunflower, the symbol of the Hospice Foundation, was used in "the Thank You book" as a fundraiser for the Irish Hospice Foundation. The piece was then auctioned to raise funds for the foundation.
Height 71cm 2009 This piece was made for the exhibition "Wunderkammer, cabinet of curiosities", and exhibition by the makers in the Design Tower in response to the Bender Collection of Asian Art in the National Museum of Ireland.
2013 Height 67cm The waveform series explores the anticlastic wavelike movement captured in a bronze sculpture. This piece was exhibited in the Art Fair at the RDS in Dublin
Height 21cm 2010 The waveform series explores the anticlastic wave like movement captured in a bronze sculpture.
Height 24cm 2009 The waveform series explores the anticlastic wavelike movement captured in a bronze sculpture. This piece was exhibited in the Hallward gallery in Dublin
Height 51cm 2009 The waveform series explores the anticlastic wavelike movement captured in a bronze sculpture. This piece was exhibited at Sculpture in Context in 2009
Height 76cm This standing Podform won the 1st Prize in Ironwork and metalwork at the RDS National Craft Competition in 2009