Local artist profile: Yvonne George

THIS week we speak with Bendigo sculptor Yvonne George.

What motivated you to become a sculptor?

I have always been an observer and collector of nature, seed pods, skeletal forms, leaves, etc.

I came to Australia from New Zealand in 1980 and during my third year of a BA in ceramics in 1983 I started making figurative forms.

I was looking at Henry Moore’s monumental bronze sculptures when the passion for form and scale began, but it wasn’t until a few years later after doing a diploma of welding at night school that I began creating metal sculptures.

Can you describe your sculpting style?

My style is eclectic. I am constantly drawn to new ideas and challenged between making a living and developing my work.

I have always treated my artistic practice as a job, in the sense of the hours I put in to produce work that I can sell to make a successful living from my passion.

I would say that my style has developed out of the necessity to take on many different types of commissions and contracts outside of my comfort zone.

Why do you choose to make use of metals in particular?

After starting in clay I find the practical aspects of welding, cutting and forming steel to be exciting.

I love being able to manipulate such a hard medium into forms, soft and delicate, or bold and imposing.

I have many aspects to my work from delicate copper water features, bronze cast sculptures through to large-scale public works, all requiring different approaches as well as mediums.

Which artists inspire you?

I am inspired these days by so many artists/sculptors.

I have a huge book collection – Henry Moore, Sophie Rider, Barbara Hepworth, Louise Bourgeois to name just a few.

I think what inspires me is great form and sensibility, scale, and technique.

What have you been working on lately?

Over the last 18 months I have been busy working on three separate public artworks for Melbourne – the last one installed in late September.

Other than this I have been working on some new work, these will be exhibited both in my gallery as well as Mica Grange sculptures in late October.

What are some fond memories you have from your career?

I remember years ago I was working on three five-and-a-half-metre bronze sculptures, and while I was using a farriers file to add strong texture to the wax on one of the pieces, I thought to myself, “this must be how Henry Moore felt when he was working on one of his large works”.

Another one would be working in the north of Italy on a sculpture for a winery. I didn’t speak a word of Italian but I met (a lot of people) and had the best experience.

How has your practice been affected by COVID?

I have been lucky in the sense of having the three public sculptures to do over this time, plus the Bendigo Pottery, where I have my studio and gallery, provided rent reduction during the 159 days of closures and lockdowns.

As for sales and people through the doors it has been painfully quiet.

Where can people visit you to see your work?

My Studio and Gallery are within the Bendigo Pottery Complex, 146 Midland Highway, Epsom. I’m here from Tuesday to Thursday and each weekend, 10am to 5pm.