“A Gathering of Biomorphs”
This piece is made from sheet bronze and copper.
The 3 upright characters are in sheet bronze also known as gilding metal it is an alloy, that is a mix of
metals, in this case 95%copper and 5% zinc. The zinc makes the metal harder and gives it a golden
colour. There is one piece left in its natural colour, while all the other pieces are patinated.
Copper is a metal of many uses, from water pipes, electrical cables, domes on buildings. Here it is
hammered from flat sheet into a bowl form, and patinated which is colouring the metal using chemicals and
oxides and heat. Copper is often patinated green, like the green domes of old buildings, the patina it is like
a tarnish, the air pollution of cities often increases the green colour.
The 3 upright pieces are biomorphs, abstract forms that could perhaps be living creatures, together they
can balance to lift the bowl, apart they fall over. They are all soldered together, it is a technique using a gas
torch and some metal which melts at a slightly lower temperature and acts like a glue. It is a strong bond.