We’re delighted to unveil our latest artwork that stands proudly beneath the trees. Lith is a new site-specific sculptural work by Jonathan Michael Ray @jonathanmichaelray, commissioned by Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens.
Jonathan Michael Ray is a visual artist living in Cornwall, who’s work is deeply connected to his surroundings, usually comprising of sculpture, assemblage, photography, print and video.. He cleverly explores the multi-layered histories, fictions and beliefs assigned to artefacts, the places he encounters, and materials straight from the landscape, as well as found objects and images.
“By layering and combining material, I am interested in looking beyond the surface of a purely physical existence and breaking down the institutions by which we are taught to see and experience the world,” he says.
The structure ‘Lith’, built from 300 brick sized blocks of Cornish granite from Bodmin, holds resonance with the larger menhirs (standing stones) and engine house chimney stacks that litter the historic landscape of West Cornwall.
Inspired by the surface and engravings of ancient stones far and wide, and the process of automatic writing, or spirit writing, the face of each block has been inscribed and gilded with a mysterious and indecipherable script.
Each block was placed on site by Jonathan with the progress being documented and captured beautifully by photographer Steve Tanner @stevetanner.
Cornish granite, enamel and epoxy
225x98x98cm
The word “Lith”, used as a prefix in “lithography” and suffix in “monolith” comes from the Greek, lithos, meaning “stone”. The word also means “a limb”.
Next week (19th May 2023), Jonathan will not only be putting on a solo exhibition but it will be the first at Bo Lee and Workman’s new gallery in Bruton.
‘The Voice in the Shadow’ will consist of new works that explore the meaning of objects through their markings of time and craftsmanship. Giving these objects new voices that blur between dream, myth and memory, and creating an atmosphere of the esoteric. Read more here.
Lith can be found near the top of Tremenheere’s Gardens in the woods overlooking St Michael’s Mount, and is neighbour to our other newest artwork, From This Day On by Alastair and Fleur Mackie.
Feature image taken by Steve Tanner.