We have the brilliant Welsh based stone figure carver Matthew
Billington. Working amidst the historic stones of Wales
he is certainly inspired by the ancient carvers but also brings
fluidity into his stone figures that suggests they were frozen
'mid-morph' in molten stone. Both Easter Island
and Dali spring to my mind when I experience some of his stone
figures. The cool, dark Welsh slate he mostly uses,
smoothed like ice, lends a power to his pieces that is compelling...
and compells you to touch...
More than any other medium, stone links us
with our past and our predecessors. It is the pre-eminent medium
of creative record. Its strength and durability, together with
its ability to accept detailed shaping, has provided us with
images and messages since the ancient times. Stone has been
carved throughout history, using the same stone types, the same
techniques and similar tools. Its longevity means that it is
sometimes impossible to even guess the age of a carving by studying
its condition. Matthew relishes making pieces whose age cannot
be guessed.
