Charles Seplowin — Sculpture

Icons from the Path of Life-Aging- in a spiral -the movement from the outer to the inner.
Styrofoam
24x24x9
2021

Path of Life- Aging

For over 40,000 years, humans have used logographic symbols to communicate complex ideas. I use clipart, icons, and the visuals I encounter while exploring the different forces that are shaping my life and the world around me. Carved from Expanded high density Polystyrene foam.

The mandala is traditionally a process that helps channel thinking and awareness. I use a very dense foam to cut and carve the shapes. The foam is coated with powdered metals and treated with traditional patinas for color. The surface is made to look like heavy, old, rusted and tarnished metal to symbolize not only the passage of time and aging, but is also a testament to the durability of these concepts though time.

With the sculpture Eden I wanted to represent man leaving the natural state when logic and thinking replaced the natural state of being. The crosses symbolize not just religion but the use of straight lines more representative of logic than the use of the curve line that symbolizes the natural state. By having vertical and horizontal lines cross we began to map out our world. The shape attached to the mathematical cross of lines represents the snake offering thought to man in the form of an apple. The pins puncturing the shapes represent discomfort that comes when we leave our comfort zone and are challenged by new ideas.

Money is best when shared but the unequal distribution of money is causing social unrest and survival issues for people everywhere. I have used the different graphic shapes of money around the world and organized them into a circle as a mandala for us to reflect on what is happening. The graphic symbols are carved and shaped in foam . The colors are created by patinas brushed on powdered metals. The texture helps unify the piece and amplifies the color.

Inspired by ancient Mexican stone drawings of concentric circles and the spiral, representing the transition from the outer ego to the inner soul. It represents change and development- the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

The virus emerging from global warming and changes to our natural world. Logos include: polar bear on ice, tornado, water faucet, thermometer, water wave, CO2, oil spill, factory smoke.