Tuesday 28 February 2012

Balancing Stones

Sculpture which has fascinated and intrigued me for some time is the work of Adrian Gray.  His seemingly impossible stone sculpture can be found on the beach at Lyme Regis where he balances large stones on top of each other.


It looks like trickery, the eye sees the stone balancing but somehow something inside says it shouldn't work.  He describes it as being all about friction and gravity, spending a lot of time looking for the right stones to work together and create his compositions of wonder.  Patience is required in finding the centre of gravity and enough of an edge (the smaller the more impressive) for friction to hold it.


Adrian then photographs the sculpture before time, the tide, wind, or weather cause the stones to topple and revert to anonymous obscurity with their fellow boulders on the sand.


I think if I didn't work with stone myself, I would find it difficult to believe he had created his pieces without trickery, checking for pins, or glue to explain the mesmerising and magical stone pieces.  But I do know a little of this 'magic' as sometimes I have moved blocks of stone, which at first seemed impossible, and then through some 'balancing'  and using the weight of the stone to help me, I have managed to shift them into place.  In fact I have (showing off!) spun huge stones on their axis with seeming ease, and it has simply been balance and gravity working perfectly together - and the same too with carrying heavy lumps, if first I achieve the stone in balance it is easier to lift and walk with.  (Though please don't ask, this is not a part of my art that I demonstrate!).



7 comments:

  1. these are wonderful and look like magic. I wonder how long they stay put on average.

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    1. I'm not sure Ellen - I do know that sometimes he takes the stones down on purpose, to avoid them falling on passer's by. There is a great image of one being washed by a wave, and still remaining upright - and also another with a great heavy seagull perching on the top - causing no problem!

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  2. Those are quite wonderful, what interesting work. Thank you for introducing a new artist to us. I will look up more about him. It does seem almost impossible what he does!

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    1. He has quite an interesting story - he was very ill and in his recovery time spent quiet hours on the beach and began to be creative in a peaceful and healing way - perhaps this comes through in his stones!

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  3. Glad I'm only moving fabric and fibres!!!
    Those balancing stones are just amazing!!

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    1. Years ago I worked in a textile company and sorted cashmere for ongoing blending, carding and weaving. It went down a huge shute and ended up in a very large sack, which I had to sew up, weigh and move to the crane for collection. They were very heavy! So, moving fibres for me was good practice for moving stone!

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  4. Fascinating work...I can see that patience is part of his practice! Thanks for sharing with us.

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