core.form-ula

UPDATE 02.28.08>>> Taken form his flickr profile- Hands-on material manipulation is very important to my practice, I like to be able to touch and feel a material, to see how it can shaped and formed and the methods of working with the material that will get the best qualities out of it. By exploring a process of manipulation, it is possible to find new ways of interpreting to the material to create forms that are truly sympathetic to the intrinsic properties of the material, and make the most out of the methods by which they are shaped, whether this be through hand-craft, or the use of an industrial process.

As well as being driven by the material, the forms I produce are influenced by my keen interest in the photography of architecture and natural forms. Elements of repetition within architecture are very appealing to me, I’m drawn to the way structures can be produced with sets of repeating elements, each of which is simple in its own right, yet contributes to create a complex and rigid structure. This is most apparent in bridges, especially those of Santiago calatrava, where form and structure become one; all the elements of construction are exposed and composed to create a beautifully flowing sculptural form.

This demonstration of art through engineered structure is truly inspiring, and is a major influence on the way I go about producing my work- to create objects that are simple to construct yet complex in appearance, and are efficient in the way they are produced, both in terms of construction time and material use. The greatest example of this principle- achieving the most from the least- are structures in nature. As in the greatest architecture, natural forms show patterns of repetition, whereby the very most is made out of the least material and energy possible, to create forms that appear amazingly complex, yet are based on very basic units and patterns of growth- these are objects that have beauty on all levels, from the way they are constructed, to the appearance of the final form.

Richard was born and raised in Huddersfield, England. A keen academic, he was pressured to apply for Oxbridge by his college tutors, but instead opted to pursue a career in the creative arts.

From 2002-03, he studied at Batley School of Art and Design, discovering a natural talent for realising three dimensional form through hands-on material exploration.

Richard studied Three Dimensional Design at the Manchester Metropolitan University, and graduated from his fourth year of study in 2007. He has found a niche working with flat sheet materials, manipulating form through the use of hand-craft and CNC manufacturing techniques. From artists biography .
www.richardsweeney.co.uk

Proper write up forthcoming.