A few years ago, we swooned over Michelle McKinney‘s mesmerizing stainless steel sculptures. Resuming her practice of using industrial materials to create ethereal works of art, the English artist has continued to create woven metal sculptures inspired by flora and fauna found in nature.
Each hand-crafted work of art is composed of metal meticulously cut by McKinney into nature-inspired elements, such as soaring birds and scattered leaves. Once the artist has achieved her desired forms, she hand-dyes each translucent piece using a neutral and natural color palette. Finally, she organizes the pieces into unique compositions, spanning symmetrical rings, askew arrangements, and seemingly arbitrary piles. She then secures each ephemeral-like element with a fine entomology pin, further emphasizing her interest in the study of nature.
On top of their intrinsic aesthetic value, McKinney's series of woven metal sculptures are fascinating from a conceptual perspective. Representative of a “complex network of tensions,” her exquisite sculptural arrangements comprehensively explore the idea of opposites. In each piece, static objects seem to evoke movement, free-falling forms challenge the limitations of their compositions, and industrial materials appear fragile. According to McKinney, “it is the dialogue that takes place between these polarities that engage so forcefully.”
You can follow McKinney's delicate practice on her Instagram.
See some of Michelle McKinney's stunning woven metal sculptures below.
Michelle McKinney: Website | Facebook | Instagram
h/t: [A Little Bit of…Whatever]
