'Roundel Reef' is another piece in Stephen Farley's Great Barrier Reef series. This composition stands out amongst others in the collection for its use of RAF roundel motifs, and is imbued with both cultural and personal meaning.
- Media: resin mixed media
- Dimensions: 100 x 64 x 3cm
- Price: £2950.00
'Roundel Reef' is another piece in Stephen Farley's series of works which explore The Great Barrier Reef. This composition stands out amongst others in the collection for its use of RAF roundel motifs, and is imbued with both cultural and personal meaning. A playful and tactile artwork, 'Roundel Reef' presents to us an explosion of primary colours, protruding from its surface. The shape of the roundels represents a different type of coral, whilst also alluding to Farley's fond memories of his late mother, who worked in a spitfire factory during WW2. An emblem of British history, Farley has re-contextualised the roundel to teleport us to a coral reef. The angle of this piece gives the illusion that we are suspended above the reef ourselves - as though we are diving through the same waters that Farley experienced himself. When diving, the coral reef cannot be touched, but this tactile sculpture invites us in, allowing us to touch and experience it up close - demonstrating Farley's unique and innovative approach to making art. Art is traditionally kept at arms length from its viewer, yet Farley turns this tradition on its head, and invites us to experience his artwork through touch. “That’s one of the unique aspects [of snorkelling] – it’s the only time you’re ever looking over the top of something” As discussed in an interview with The Digest, Farley’s works are often only awarded their meaning post-production. Many of Farley’s works linked to the Great Barrier Reef were made prior to his interest in the subject, and it was only when a viewer drew the visual parallel that Farley began to research the topic himself. This fluid and versatile way of working gives Farley’s works an air of spontaneity, which is ironic given that resin is one of the least spontaneous materials to work with. This irony is also prominent in Farley's choice of highly synthetic materials as a way of imitating organic forms. These forms can appear like glass at times, giving them a certain fragility, which is an interesting conflict when considering the durability of resin. These countless contradictions within Farley's oeuvre are what make his works so engaging. Compositions such as 'Roundel Reef' have a distinctive tactility to them; the textures and light refractions of the resin draw us in – they’re almost impossible not to touch. An extremely tactile piece, 'Roundel Reef' is a sculpture is like no other in the series - it demands to be seen and experienced in the flesh, and would make a priceless addition to any art collection.
Working and living in Birmingham, Stephen Farley is a 3D artist who works with a range of materials, most notably resin. Farley's oeuvre is multifaceted and tactile - whether a wall piece or a stand-alone sculpture - they're almost impossible not to touch, and demand to be seen in the flesh. This physical aspect of Farley's work offers new ways of experiencing art through touch, leading to many collaborations with BlindArt, a charity that supports those with sight restrictions. Stephen Farley is a versatile, exciting, and innovative artist - whether a wall piece or a free-standing sculpture, any piece from his collection would make a worthwhile investment, and a valuable asset to any contemporary art collection, gallery space, or home.
Other images of Roundel Reef by Stephen Farley ARBSA