Balius

The title comes from the name of one of the horses of Achilles. The supporting steel form is based on the shape of Hoplon, Greek shields. The horse was modelled in clay and then covered in plaster waste moulds. I cast marble resin into the moulds, chipped the plaster moulds away and reassembled the horse. I made an ellipsoid former from plaster of paris into which I could construct the two hoplon forms. I cut 10mm square section steel rod to a length which would fit within the planar form of the ellipsoid with the ends of each length cut to an angle of 137.5 degrees which is the golden angle. In geometry the golden angle is the smaller of the two angles created by sectioning the circumference of a circle according to the golden ratio. The cut and angled lengths were then welded to form a zig-zag planar pattern over the former. This was repeated and the two halves were welded together to form the ellipsoid.  The sculpture combines a modelled figurative element with a mathematically constructed abstraction. Balius has been exhibited at No.1 Smithery Gallery and Birtley House.