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Introspective – by Sophie Ryder

Location: Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

My day trip: September 21, 2011.

Sophie Ryder was born in London, England, in 1963. Ryder specializes in making mystical creatures, animals and hybrid beings made from sawdust, wet plaster, old machine parts and toys, weld joins and angle grinders, wire ‘pancakes’, torn scraps of paper, charcoal sticks and acid baths.

Her most known piece is the Lady Hare, a hare with a female human body. From wikipedia.. When asked why she portrays hares she replied, “Well, I find it difficult answering that question because I don’t really know the answer. It’s the same as asking me why I make sculpture, and the answer is, because I feel driven to. So it’s difficult to always pin down reasons. My introduction to hares was when my lurcher dog would proudly bring hares home and drop them at my feet.

The idea of making three-dimensional sculptures entirely from wire was pioneered by Ryder. She begins with a metal armature, which is covered with wire of different thickness, including bed springs and other pieces salvaged from ships. To shape the wire she uses her bare hands and pliers, sometimes aided by a hammer. It is a very physical job and tough on the hands, which inevitably get filthy and cut at times.

Sophie Ryder website.. click here..

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In my trip to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park I saw the piece Introspective by Sophie Ryder..

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Published by Jyoti Srivastava
Image copyright © Jyoti Srivastava

 

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