Jamie North "Stone in Three Phases 2022"

Born in Newcastle, Australia, the artist is known for his large-scale stone installations, which can be seen in connection with conceptual art such as Land Art, Arte Povera and the Japanese Mono-ha movement.

"Stone in Three Phases 2022" is living erosion and transformation. Between industry and nature, between wasteland and cultural landscape, the sculptures assume a mediating position. North artistically explores geomorphological processes. In all three parts of the installation, the basic materials are Vals quartzite and rocks from steel slag, a waste product from steel production.

At first glance, "Stone Field" impresses with its strict order, which is, however, broken up by deliberately placed irregularities. Small ferns and mosses settle in the brittle and porous material. In "Rock Suspension", North turns the subterranean path of the water outwards. The stones strung on a chain are reminiscent of the Japanese rain chain (kusari-toi). "Remainders" consists of a series of spheres cast by the artist himself. The spheres symbolize the perfection of the imperfect.

Jamie North lives and works in Sydney. His works can also be found in public spaces, particularly in Australia and English-speaking countries. International awards and residencies have taken him to Singapore, Turkey and the USA, among other places. For the first time, the artist is also represented in Switzerland with this three-part work. During his three-month stay in Stein am Rhein, he conceived and produced the installation as artist in residence in the Chretzeturm and in a workshop in Hemishofen. He used exclusively local materials and regional plants, some of which he collected in the surrounding area.