LUX v\/orldv\/lde THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO LUXURY
SCULPTURAL INSPIRATION BY DAVID HARBER
Thursday 18th February, 2016. Sam Kessler (Online Editor) Combining light and shadow, reflections and the natural world, create your perfect sculpture with David Harber Art is by its very nature subjective; one man s Picasso might well be another s kindling. In the same way that no two pieces are exactly the same, neither are the viewers reactions to them. A specific painting may appeal to you on a deeply emotional level, stirring up childhood thoughts or powerful feelings. On the other hand, it s just as likely to leave you as unmoved as a rock. The search for those rare pieces of art which do stir the passions is unending and, with so much out there to discovery, can be exhausting. Even then, there s no guarantee you will find something which not only affects you, but works in your home. There s simply so much to consider that little short of serendipity can help. Unless, that is, you create precisely what you want. We don t mean pack it all in and turn fully-fledged artist; appealing as it might seem, we don t exactly have the artistic skills for that aspiration ourselves. Yet you could always get a helping hand from a true creative paragon. Arguably the single most prolific, not to mention renowned names in bespoke sculpture, David Harber is the polar opposite of many artists. Whereas most use their own experiences and outlooks to create pieces unique to them, David Harber s skill lies in focusing on his clients as the source of creativity.
We re not talking about small-scale art here, paintings or portraits. Harber is a sculptor, and one that works on a pretty large scale. Founded on the interplay between light, shadow, base metals and moving water, his works range from wall-mounted sculptures to the 2.4m mirrored pendulum that greets visitors to the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. With this focus on large, metallic pieces, it s little surprise that Harber is most predominantly known for his outdoor installations. Dark, pebbled spheres, surreal orbs like cross-sectioned planets and steel lattices, Harber s impressive, structural pieces enhance rather than dominate the landscape, a near-impossibly delicate balance. For sculptors form tends to come a country mile before function; their entire remit is to create objects pleasing to the eye rather than intrinsically useful. Harber however is one of the last remaining artisans creating exquisite sundials and armillary spheres, and he does so in stunning fashion. These pieces straddle the divide between practical use and pure ornamentation, turning what was at one point in history a timekeeping necessity into something to be appreciated for its sheer beauty and inventiveness. Even something as theatrical as the Noonday Cannon, a bronze cannon that goes off when enough light is focused onto it, is a fusion of those two disparate poles.
Regardless of whether it s an objet d art or an object with artistic tendencies, David Harber s specific ethos of design is apparent in each and every one. Given that most pieces sit in gardens and parks, the natural world is always going to be an inspiration, one that can be seen in the natural curves and soft, organic shapes of the pieces. But like all good art there s a distinct contrast; the materials that create these languid shapes are usually among the most rugged, harsh materials available. Typically-jagged slate smoothed into tactile roundness, steel sculpted into smooth, undulating forms, it s the dichotomy between the two that makes each piece particularly special. Sundials and armillary spheres are invariably inspired by the heavens, yet the cosmos has found its way into much more of David Harber s designs. Dark planetoids of stone, mirrored rings and orbs filled with light, these sculptures recreate the night sky at ground level. The Kernal is especially galactic, the slate sphere with a mirrored slice taken out reminiscent of a cross-section of a planet. And just like the celestial orbs, Harber s creations play with perception, often attempting to confound the viewer with a new visual discovery. Indeed, that sense of discover is the starting point of every David Harber design. The play of light and shadow in a particular space, the movement of water in a swirling river, Harber attempts to bring these ephemeral, temporary moments to solid, immutable life, yet another reason that, although the designs are often organic, always unusual, the materials used are meant to last a relative eternity.
With a bespoke commission, all these inspirations, these different elements that Harber painstakingly incorporates into each of his pieces can be channelled directly into your perfect sculpture. From beginning to end, you ll work with David to bring your vision to life, accompanied by the artist s eye for form, his ability to capture the essence of the space in physical shape. Of course, if you were after something a little less time consuming, the other option is a custom commission. Rather than starting from scratch, this allows you to choose a design Harber has already created and customise it in your own way. Different materials, finishes, touches of engraving, the options are almost as endless as bespoke, yet with a distinct starting point to work from. Either way, bespoke or custom commission, inside or out, small-scale or massive installation, the result will be a piece from one of the finest British sculptors working today. If that doesn t stir the emotions then nothing will.