Big Sur - green plaster
by KATE HENDERSON
hand cast custom pigmented, polished plaster
11 x 11 x 12 cm
Originally carved in Nephrite Jade from Big Sur - which gave the piece its title - the jade was sourced in California as a second-hand bookend. The carving process was long and meditative (Nephrite jade is harder than steel), and it became one of the first forms Kate chose to explore further through casting.
The beauty of this piece lies partly in how it rests on a curved surface, giving it both elegance and a subtle sense of movement. Like much of her work, it can be enjoyed in different orientations - there is no single right way, only the way each individual responds to it.
Each piece remains unique, even within a colour edition, due to the hand processes involved. Bespoke editions can also be created, and we welcome enquiries about special commissions.
"I enjoy exploring certain forms further by creating moulds from selected carvings and continuing the conversation through casting. Working in a wide range of materials allows me to revisit the same form in new scales, orientations, colours and levels of translucency.
Forms may be sliced, partially cast, or even carved again after casting - creating new shapes that remain rooted in the original. As with carving, the process is guided by response embracing the unexpected and celebrating the material’s voice." Kate Henderson