Yield
Recent works by Jim Maunder
Jim Maunder's recent body of work takes us into an ambiguous world of altered, organic forms. They are sprouts, pods and bulbs bursting forth with voluptuous foam or gaping with wounds stitched up by railway spikes. These seem radical interventions of metal upon wood and science upon nature. The sculptures speak to the artist's concerns with the impact of bioengineering and the precarious balance of the natural environment. Yet there is a curious reciprocity between the materials that suggest an ultimately complementary relationship. There is more intimacy between the rusted metal bases and the organic wood forms than we would expect. Jim Maunder asserts "inevitably, nature will have its way." His perspective acknowledges both the environmentalist‚s dire warnings and the optimism of the dandelion that defies concrete‚s domination. The sculpture is beautifully ominous. Compelling. Surfaces of erosion are replete with colour and texture. Metal sheets are embroidered with scars; concrete slabs are marked with the tallies of unknown events. These are objects that despite being altered possess a life giving grace.

Excerpt from text by Gloria Hickey

All photos by Erick Walsh unless otherwise stated