Most recent artist statement

Joel Armstrong and I were talking about artist statements this morning over coffee and I thought I’d repost my most recent statement, written for a small show at my church last year.

Paul Nielsen: Mixed media sculptor

I am a mixed media sculptor primarily working in wood, clay and found objects. Inlaid stones or exotic woods often embellish my minimalist works. This show explores a few different ideas. These ideas have been present in my work for years and continue to be refined as I continue creating in the studio.

The idea of salvage and restoration. I use salvaged objects in my sculpture, sometimes as a focal point and other times as raw material. I don’t so much restore, but I like the idea of restoration. Sometimes, an object can be brought back to its original glory. Sometimes parts of it must be replaced.

The idea of an object’s history. Salvaged objects bring history with them, all kinds of history. People — viewers — bring history and associations with them as well.

The idea of entropy, the inevitable and steady deterioration of a system of society (or object therein). Someday, in this present world, all things will need to be salvaged or restored.

The idea of beauty. Many artists, although perhaps fewer in the last few decades, are fascinated by beauty. I am one of them. I often like to think that some day I will be able to aspire, in my artwork, to a beauty which approaches the Beauty in the world as it was before the Fall.

The idea of icon is becoming more prevalent in my work — that is, “A sign or representation that stands for an idea or object.” I hope that my sculpture and wall pieces aid or direct the viewer to think about and consider circumstances and ideas larger than themselves — as an Icon might do.