Amy Stephens: Waking Matter: Frieze Sculpture 2023

Waking Matter is assembled from a piece of surplus marble that is presented to the viewer as an object of stability and immense fragility. This beautiful off-cut was noticed by the artist when documenting the view from a quarry that overlooks the Lunigiana territory in Tuscany. The metamorphic rock inhabits both a physical and psychological space. Set upon a modern, architectonic steel pedestal, there is an air of admiration for the entity itself. The physical making process is clearly visible forming a bond between the natural and the constructed. Striated and pitted with crystals, the conflicting geological textures take naturally to each other as they are forced to adopt a new habitat. Rocks and minerals have their own story, but the abundance of any object can be a source of invisibility. This sculpture is a celebration of nature that focuses on the importance of these terrestrial wonders.

Underpinned by geology and travel, Amy Stephens is interested in how we reuse, recycle and re-appropriate everyday materials from our daily environment. Using photography and collage, the work evolves through a series of stages leading to three dimensional structures.  The artist’s intention is to elevate artefacts in a considered way to generate a new perspective about time and our appreciation of the landscape.