Solitude No. 4: Siesta

Solitude No. 4: Siesta
Materials: Steel sheet, brass, copper, wood, nuts, and bolts
Dimensions: 2 ft x 2 ft

Solitude No. 4: Siesta is a representational wall-bound sculpture that continues an investigation into the material potential of metal, particularly in the context of mixed media and relief-based formats. Developed using techniques parallel to those employed in Distanced (2019), this work leverages traditional welding and cutting methods to generate both form and surface texture on flat steel. The integration of brass and copper—shaped and fused through oxyacetylene welding—introduces a dialogue between control and unpredictability, as certain elements were cut and adjusted in response to compositional needs that emerged during the welding process.

Clamps and locking pliers were employed strategically to minimize metal warping along the vertical plane, while elements were selected and proportioned according to a pre-established compositional study. Unlike Distanced, where the base steel sheet remained horizontal and elements were pre-cut and affixed with a GI rod frame to mitigate distortion, Solitude No. 4: Siesta was assembled more fluidly, reflecting an iterative process that emphasized bodily posture and restfulness within its representational schema.

Both works utilize household chemicals to induce patination, yielding a wide spectrum of surface variation and oxidation that speak to the inherent temporal nature of metal. While Distanced leans into abstraction and the formal exploration of spatial detachment, Solitude No. 4: Siesta invites contemplation through figuration and stillness, evoking the intimacy of solitude and the restorative act of siesta through a materially expressive language.