jeff thomson

Detritus
Readymade ladders, wheelbarrow, powder coating
2200 x 2000 mm

Commissions available

Jeff Thomson's Detritus is unlike anything in his expansive and treasured oeuvre of typical corrugated iron works. Where we might be more familiar with the Mahoe Leaf sculptures that have graced the sculpture trail for years, Detritus brings to mind a small playground in the forest - something native birds might perch on, or an animal might make a home in. The work is a look at the deconstruction of vernacular metal objects, using familiar imagery to create an intriguing, aestheticised artwork in the forest.

The multitude of rich, saturated colours in Detritus are stark in what is a dense patch of dark bush, a playful contrast of visual colour effects. The tangled linearity, the stripped back semi- transparent forms, are perhaps derived from the skeletal leaf structures of his familiar Mahoe leaves; the work achieves a similar web-like quality which seems to defy the strength and rigidity of the material. Thomson cuts out the bulk of the object with a plasma cutter, which he uses just like drawing with a pencil. This effect creates an intricate linear construction of outer and inner perimeters. Detritus breaks new ground by moving away from corrugated iron and using readymades, such as aluminium A-frame ladders, extension ladders, galvanised bins, number eight wire, paint buckets and wheelbarrows, to create an enchanting and delicately balanced playground of lines.