Ritual and magic

I am thrilled that the eldest has chosen to follow his dream and sculpture at university.

My ex and I are fortunate to have the means to support our child while he pursues a career in the arts.

And it’s been exciting to watch his progress.

Hybrid creatures have been a recurring theme throughout the first year and a half of uni. And his latest creation is on the grandest scale yet.

Here’s the eldest with the sculpture to give you a sense of just how big it is …

The initial concept was to create a sense of ritual and magic. The materials used were plaster bandage, hessian and chicken wire.

In a written exploration of the artwork and its evolution, the eldest discussed a mythical creature that he made for my dad in late December.

He describes it as “a surrogate for my presence, a break from monotony, a source of comfort and a reminder of love”.

Oh, my heart, those words are so beautiful.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the latest artwork, other than its delicate scale, is its eyes. They were sculpted in polymer clay before being painted, with resin used to attach glass domes to give them a 3D effect.

I find the resulting sculpture both compelling and confronting. At first the creature appears sinister, but as I stare into those eyes and examine the amazing textures that make up its body, I feel so many emotions.

The creature seems vulnerable, despite its imposing size, and its eyes seem oddly kind and searching. I feel an unexpected urge to protect and comfort it.

I worry about the dystopian world my children have inherited. It’s a place where Aussies look at the hell Trump has unleashed and think let’s vote for Pauline Hanson and get some of that shite going here.

There are many things I am not certain about in life, but I am sure Australia would not be a better place with Pauline in charge.

Watching the eldest thrive and create art gives me a glimmer of hope for the future in this dysfunctional world.

PS No blog post tomorrow because I’m off to the Australasian Reporting Awards tonight. Wish me luck! I’ll give you the lowdown next week. Have a good weekend.

Song of the day: Harry Styles “Sign of the times”