Waiting for the Night to Fall by Stephen Farley ARBSA

Waiting for the Night to Fall by Stephen Farley
Waiting for the Night to Fall by Stephen Farley

Part of Stephen Farley's iconic silhouette series, 'Waiting for the Night to Fall' is a double-sided resin wall piece. Presenting to us a golden figure glowing in the centre, the silhouette is surrounded by a vignette of blues - as the name suggests; are we waiting for the night to fall?

Part of Stephen Farley's iconic silhouette series, 'Waiting for the Night to Fall' is a double-sided resin wall piece. Presenting to us a golden figure glowing in the centre, the silhouette is surrounded by a vignette of blues - as the name suggests; are we waiting for the night to fall? Farley's heavy musical influence seeps through every aspect of this work - it takes its title from a single release from Depeche Mode, and the process of the work involves double-sided engraving, inspired by the A and B sides of vinyl records. This is a multidimensional, tactile work of art, made with combination of colour resin, clear medium and engraving. This rigorous engraving and sculpting process has been used to create an in-depth composition that explores concepts of humanity, the body, and the existential. In Farley's silhouette series, the male figures often depict the artist himself, standing solitary in a state of self-reflection. His signature 'spurt' motifs imbue a sense of life and fluidity - we can almost see them moving as they swarm around the surface. "I'm sharing an apparition of a male figure adorned in the finest silver and gold in a worshipful pose. As the sky darkens, we rely on more distant light sources that need to work harder to lure out the subtle shifts in form. It's only when the visible details of the day are lost that we turn to our tactile senses for a more pressing appreciation". If we look closely, we can see the subtle hints of silver and gold leaf embedded into the surface, which enhance the existing light refractions of the resin. Taking inspiration from Medieval and Renaissance eras of painting, Farley is fascinated by their use of silver and gold to depict religious imagery. Straying away from this subject, Farley instead uses these valuable materials to depict the power of humanity, reminding us that we are no different to these epochal figures - at the core, we are all the same. Whether stand-alone sculptures or statement wall pieces, Farley’s works are exciting and tactile - they're almost impossible not to touch, and demand to be seen in the flesh to experience their full impact. Through attention to detail, an intuitive approach, and a wide range of materials, Farley has developed his own unique visual language, which takes on a multitude of forms and narratives. Informed by years of experimentation and development, any of Farley’s works would make a priceless asset for any contemporary 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 and any artwork from his collection would make a worthwhile investment, and a valuable asset to any contemporary art collection, gallery space, or home.

Other images of Waiting for the Night to Fall by Stephen Farley ARBSA
Waiting for the Night to Fall by Stephen Farley
Waiting for the Night to Fall by Stephen Farley
Waiting for the Night to Fall by Stephen Farley
Waiting for the Night to Fall by Stephen Farley
Waiting for the Night to Fall by Stephen Farley
Waiting for the Night to Fall by Stephen Farley