Buck, Jon
Ship to Shore – about the
artwork
Born in Pill, Jon Buck descends from a family of
Bristol Pilots, who for generations have safely guided shipping vessels through
the waters from Portishead to Bristol.
An imposing spot set on the headland overlooking the
Bristol Channel will be the remarkable final setting for Jon BuckÕs bronze
heads, four metres high and vibrantly patinated in red. They relate to those
Ôwho journeyÕ and those Ôwho waitÕ, acting as sentinel at the entrance to the
new marina.
ÒThe inspiration for this work came directly from the
physical and historical context of the dockside in which it is placed. The form
of the work reflects the shipping bollards that still exist along the old
quayside. Superimposed is a male head looking out to sea and above is his
female counterpart facing the opposite direction. This makes reference to the
dichotomy that was always present in seafaring communities. Ship to Shore was a
type of communication used to connect the two.Ó Jon Buck.
Statement
Jon Buck studied at Trent Polytechnic, 1975-79 and
Manchester Polytechnic, 1979-80. Following his studies, he was appointed Fellow
in Sculpture at Gloucestershire College of Art and Technology, 1980-81 and was
the first artist in residence for Thamesdown Borough Council in 1984-85,
financed by Southern Arts.
Interest in how we relate to the natural world and
the making of sculptural objects have always been inextricably linked in Jon
Buck's mind. Initially the content of his work was overtly expressed through
quite complex and relatively naturalistic figurative compositions. In
attempting to draw together, in a more meaningful way, the two elements of his
interest, his work has become simpler and more iconic in form. In 2000 he
produced a body of work that was shown in an exhibition entitled 'Intimate
Connections'. These sculptures look to act as intercessors between our
contemporary intellectual-selves and a more ancient sensory, unconscious-self
that connects us with our primitive more fundamental natures.
Jon Buck has exhibited regularly since 1980 mostly in
Europe, America and Britain. Most recent are his sculptures 'Returning to
Embrace' shown at Canary Wharf in the exhibition, 'The Shape of the Century:
100 Years of Sculpture in Britain. Currently his sculpture 'Goodwood Goddess'
is part of the main collection at Goodwood, and the maquette for the piece is
included in the exhibition at the Venice Guggenheim Museum, Venice, 2002. He
has undertaken a number of major commissions including, the new British
Consulate-General in Hong Kong, Deal Pier in Kent, Milton Keynes General
Hospital, Canary Wharf in London the West Quay Centre in Southampton and
Bristol University's Centre for Sport, Exercise and Health.
For more information on the artist, please see
www.axisweb.org/artist/jonbuck