Driven by a passion for geometry and symmetry, Queenstown-based artist Stephen Burke weaves elements of structure and form into his art, inviting viewers to explore the dynamic interplay between light, colour, shape, and reflections.
After years immersed in interior design, Stephen was drawn to sketch his first sculpture. The familiar tools of his design practice became instruments for new exploration, as he began to shape plywood and acrylic into three-dimensional forms.
“I have travelled extensively throughout Europe and Egypt, where I enjoyed and experienced major art works and architecture. Additionally, living in Barcelona, the stained glass of Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, seen from the central nave, left a lasting impression. These experiences have without doubt influenced my creative processes” Stephen explains.
Stephen’s enduring fascination with the natural world continues to guide his practice. Where his earlier works echoed architectural lines, recent sculptures follow a more organic path, inspired by the infinite forms and colours found in nature.
His latest series brings mirrored surfaces into conversation with acrylic. Nga Kaitiaki (top) a triptych named for the te reo Māori word for guardians, embodies the concept of stewardship over the environment and natural resources. Each piece reflects in rose gold mirror its environment, drawing the viewer in, as geometric forms caste dramatic shadows.
The elongated acrylic sculpture Honeysuckle (above) extends this exploration. Its palette and organic contours are informed by memories of Eton UK, where a Japanese honeysuckle and its scent caught Stephen’s attention.
