Silver Matter 1

About Silver Matter 1

Exquisite in detail, highly textured and finished in silver, this organic-shaped wall relief was hand sculpted by Shayne Dark. The Kingston-based artist is known for his compelling abstract sculptures often informed by nature. This piece is once again inspired by walks in the woods that surround his studio. The swirling mass revealed here is made contemporary by its rich colour palette.

“The forms the series references are tree growths, wood burls, twisted and irregular in shapes that are often covered in a mossy growth of various colours. The exterior of tree burls have a tactile quality and I am interested in the rough, intricate twists and rope-like bark. The works in the series are abstract representations of the cavities, fibrous ropey curves and markings on the exterior.” Shayne Dark

“In all of Dark's works, meaning and definition are elusive, mysterious, and intended to resonate within the perception and imagination of the viewer.” David Liss, Artistic Director and Curator, Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art

He was the artist in residence at the Brooklyn botanic garden in 2016 following a successful residency at the Albright Knox and Buffalo botanical garden in 2015 and a feature article on his work in Sculpture magazine. At Art Basel in Toronto, Dark was named one of the top ten artists to watch. In 2017, Dark had a solo exhibition at New York’s Brooklyn Botanical Garden and the following year he was inducted into the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. In 2022, Dark exhibited at the Cloud 9 Eco-Art Festival at No. 9 Gardens in the Rideau Lakes, Ontario. His work can be found in numerous private, corporate, and public collections.