Orla Fox

When reaching out to Merseyside Metals, to discuss possible discounts on copper material, I received an encouraging response with an invoice including a competitive price for the material. I was also told that the company has been working as a supplier for a successful artist in North Wales, Junko Mori, who produces metal-based sculptures of organic forms. As my project is transdisciplinary by nature, I was impressed to be informed of an artist through a metal work company.

Mori’s work takes inspiration from organic forms and matter, bridging the fields between artistry and craft, the sculptures appear almost weightless. The incredible artistry and delicate nature of the pieces transform the material beyond staticity into something alive. The organic, plant-like appearance of the sculptures has given me some ideas about how I can further improve my sculpture and metalwork skills and include them in my Supernova sculpture.

Since my sculptural concept and workshop plan is based on the quote by Cassé, as well as the metaphorical language of seeds and scattering that appear in the scientific literature surrounding the phenomena, Mori provides the ideal inspiration for producing flower-like forms with extremely dense and heavy materials.

‘The beautiful exploding flowers called Supernovas illuminate a moving theme indeed: matter’s slow ascent to glory… Generously they open like blossom, showering space with their myriad winged atoms’ (Michel Cassé, 2003).

The alien-like nature of the forms is further increased by the weightlessness and balance of the objects. This absence of gravity is something I have tried to achieve in my own sculptures, where I have used invisible thread and suspended them from ceilings, where the structure can be observed as a form separated from its surrounding. The sculpture therefore ties in with its astronomical theme, evoked by its otherworldly nature.

I will continue to use Mori’s works as inspiration during the evolution of my copper Supernova sculpture and aid alongside her in the bridging between craft and art.