Forging Meaning: Tom Price's Dialogue with Material

11 hours ago7 min read3 comments

For sculptor Tom Price, the studio is a stage for a profound material dialogue. Here, he does not simply command his media but engages in a collaborative process, allowing substances like bitumen, recycled plastics, and industrial piping to actively shape the narrative of the work.This approach blurs the rigid lines between figuration and abstraction, revealing them as interconnected forces. A figure may emerge from bitumen not as a perfect replica but as a ghostly impression, its dark, viscous nature contributing to the piece's emotional gravity.Price's renowned series using construction materials exemplifies this, where cold, functional pipework is transformed into hauntingly human-like forms, creating a potent tension between the organic and the industrial. Meaning in his work is not imposed but excavated through an arduous, often unpredictable, process of experimentation.What might be seen as a mistake—a crack, an unexpected drip—becomes a crucial improvisation, leading to compelling artistic breakthroughs. Ultimately, Price's sculptures invite us to consider the hidden biographies of everyday materials, reminding us that the most powerful stories are often told through the silent, eloquent language of form and texture, forged in the crucible of material experiment.

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#Tom Price

#sculpture

#material experimentation

#figuration

#abstraction

#artist interview

#contemporary art

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