Oak Pebble (1)

Matthew Kendall

Oak Pebble (1) is is an almost-perfect sphere – crafted by hand from one piece of oak. This work forms part of artist Matthew Kendall’s first limited edition collection for Them Outdoors, ‘Pods and Pebbles.’

Oak Pebble (1) been scorched, polished and sealed with natural oil to enhance the grain of the wood and ensure longevity. Matthew’s five-piece collection is made from a fallen oak tree, sourced from the South Downs National Park. Through an intimate process of chiselling and chain sawing the artist develops a unique relationship with each of his works and uncovers characteristics that lead to it’s final finish; some grooved, some hollowed, some polished, some scorched.

As a result the collection is imbued with a sense of calm and serenity; the rhythm of the seasons evident in the organic patterns that mark each piece. Spherical shapes have an enduring appeal, their timeless form appearing throughout nature, from the micro world of atoms to the macro world of seeds and water drops; into the cosmic realm of planets – and the entire observable universe itself.  Through his work, Matt seeks to draw people back to the majesty of nature, and to reflect on our place in the wider world and the interconnectedness of all things.

Oak is one of the hardiest woods and best for enduring varying seasons. These spheres are living sculptures, designed to respond to the natural environment around them. They will adjust to the seasons, twisting and cracking as they dry out in warmer weather and gradually silvering over time. Sculptures can be kept indoors in order to retain its original condition during more extreme weather (very low or high temperatures or during periods of prolonged rain).

The scorching is an ancient Japanese technique called ‘shou sugi ban’ or ‘yakisugi’ and will also prolong the life of the piece. As the scorched spheres weather, raw wood will appear in the cracks and some scorched areas will lighten, creating a more natural appearance.

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