Realms of myth and metamorphosis
- Edgar's stone sculptures evoke illusion and depth
- He experiments with 3D modelling and printing
- He collaborates with architects and designers on architectural stone pieces
Edgar Ward is a stone carver and sculptor whose work balances traditional crafts with digital experimentation. He studied stone carving at the City & Guilds of London Art School, then he went on to study ceramics at the Royal College of Art. Through his works, Edgar explores illusions of transformation, in which form and perspective appear in flux. "My work invites viewers into psychologically resonant worlds that sit between the imagined and the tangible," he says. Edgar created a series of 14 artworks celebrating local heritage and biodiversity, now permanently installed in a new development in Hove in the UK. In addition to his work in stone, he experiments with 3D modelling and clay to create sculptures influenced by mythology, architecture and the atmospheres of sacred sites.
Interview
- When did your interest in sculpture begin?
- I always loved drawing, but I wanted to physically work with materials. When I was 17, I discovered stone carving. I was lucky enough to meet people from the field, and receive formal training at City & Guilds in Kennington in London.
- What informs your work?
- I am inspired by an extensive list of references. I have always been interested in religion and spirituality. As a child, I lived in Delhi, where I used to walk around ruins and temples. I am also interested in archetypal figures in classic myths, and transformation that comes from quests and journeys.
- How do you hope people will experience your sculptures?
- My work is theatrical: it is all about illusion and depth. Although stone carving takes a lot of meticulous planning, I want forms to be ambiguous and figures to dissolve into rock or foliate shapes. I want my work to feel immersive and mysterious, like entering a cathedral, or a canopy of trees.
- Has technology influenced your making process?
- I regularly meet and collaborate with architects and interior designers interested in architectural stone pieces. However, during the pandemic, I learned to work with 3D modelling and printing. It is a different form of sculpture. It feels like there is another entity involved, a collaboration with the machine, a creative back and forth.
Edgar Ward is a rising star: he began his career in 2018 and he started teaching in 2021
Where
Edgar Ward
