The Joy of Carving: Paul Kaptein
When we think of wood sculptors what do we have in our minds- Furniture, jewelry box etc. right? But have you seen sculptures as huge and real as humans? Paul Kaptein is a sculptor who belongs to Perth, Western Australia and currently working in the ancient craft of wood carving. His sculptures are quite different from what we usually come across. Apart from being made out of wood, his sculptures have space/hollowness in between them and carry a deep message.You could as easily read them as silences.
During our research on Paul, One World News we got to know that he has graduated twice. And when we had the opportunity to converse with him, we showed our interest in knowing the story behind it. So in response, Paul said, “I first did a 3 yr Advance Diploma in Fine Art, which enabled me to head straight into the final year of a degree. I was lucky enough to be selected to represent the sculpture department in the annual graduate show ‘Hatched’ both times, hence the ‘looping’ nature of my education.”
Picture caption & Link : And in the endless pauses there came a sound, http://bit.ly/1nY0ru6
Further Paul expressed that for him drawing and riding a bike were much more interesting for him since childhood, “I think as a kid all I wanted to do was draw and ride my bike. I still find them to be the best way to experience and interpret the world. The creative impulse always drove my decisions, so it seemed natural to indulge that impulse and I can’t imagine that ever changing.”
Paul says that working with wood is not hard but quite slow and further describing what his art-work is all about, Paul said, “Wood is a living thing, it surrounds us and it suggests past, present and future. So, conceptually wood is just perfect as a medium of expression. I am looking at how the present is influenced by past and future potentialities, and how things are connected across time. -the Now as a remix.”
Picture caption & Link : Nothing is accomplished by hearing a piece of music, http://bit.ly/1s4wJDk
According to Paul, the wood sculptures are suggestive of matter shifting from one state to another and are an attempt to describe the relationship between form and formlessness in a sculptural way. You could as easily read them as silences.
Unfolding how he has connected wood with life, Paul said that most of the cultures have utilized wood for shelter, fire, weapons, transport etc. so in many ways wood is life. His first ever carving was a life sized Satyr depicted as a sound recordist. For him, it was a steep learning curve across every level.
Picture caption & Link : Idiotgue, http://bit.ly/1uUslZS
Ending the conversation with Paul, One World News finally threw a bouncer by asking him about how he keeps his sculptures safe from termites, “I am hoping the holes in the work deter them!” exclaims Paul!
