Barry X Ball’s practice draws upon the long-standing tradition of artists emulating, and working with, the art of others. Ball’s approach is truly innovative, utilising the latest innovations in 3D scanning technology to capture the original works, creating blueprints which the artist then alters and enhances using his unique artistic vision. The artist’s final designs are then milled out of stone, in a long and meticulous process. Despite the computer-aided nature of the work, there is still a high level of human intervention required, with each piece being carefully hand-finished as to demonstrate the beauty of the material.

This work is from a series, studying and reimagining the work of Medardo Rosso, the post-impressionist Italian sculptor – who has had a profound influence on Barry X Ball’s work. Drawing upon the original bronze work, Enfant au Sein, now in the collection of the Museo Medardo Rosso, Barzio, Ball has abstracted the piece further, rendering it in a richly hued Honeycomb Calcite. The result is a highly textured work that draws in the eye, to which it reveals traces of the original work rethought. The piece appears to glow, like a fragment of stained glass, lending it a sense of religiosity.

Barry X Ball’s practice draws upon the history of sculpture, placing it in direct conversation with new technology. He carefully employs materials that remain sensitive to the original works and their themes, extending upon them in a truly innovative manner. These acts of creation also reveal a deep-seated appreciation for his artistic forebears.