Simon max bannister biography

Simon Max Bannister, born and raised in South Africa, moved to New Zealand after being captivated by the dramatic beauty of the land, its people, and the profound reverence for nature. In his artistic practice, Bannister employs a distinctive bronze casting technique to express his concerns about habitat and species loss. Working predominantly with wood and metal, he creates ephemeral sculptures that poignantly reflect the precarious state of nature.

In his smaller bronze sculptures, Bannister assembles wood splinters, resembling feathers, bone, and sinew, collected from sawmills frequented by him. Utilizing a unique lost cast technique, he uses these wooden fragments to construct indigenous birds, nests, and wings. The incineration of these shapes becomes the mould for the final bronze sculpture, immortalizing species that hold deep significance for him.

Bannister’s large steel sculptures, encouraged to naturally oxidize, exude a warm patina rich in earthy ochres, reflecting a sense of time and place within the elements. The initial form is meticulously moulded and then incinerated in a kiln. Casting bronze into the resulting negative space creates a unique replica of the original work, symbolizing the cyclical nature of life. His sculptures come to life after refining the concept down to essential sketch marks, which serve as the backbone for the large armature, onto which additional characters and details are added.

Bannister’s unique bronze work, blending wood and metal, carries a powerful essence that captures both the eye and the heart. His bird forms, crafted with a splintered language, delicately capture the character and fragility of each species. Each sculpture serves as a respectful tribute to natural beauty and a poignant reminder of the imperative need to preserve it.

In his steel outdoor pieces, Bannister integrates industrial elements, transforming iron into wilder themes like skeletal armatures, nests, wings, feathers, and branches. These

THE CALLING EXHIBITION:

Some have heard it already; From the forest depths, there is a sound which cracks the silence: a rippling echoing reverberant melody. The land is alive and speaks to us through birdsong. The language is that of ancient knowledge. A living story of a land in harmony, this is a call that we must heed. For it will calm our restless minds, and unify the dissonance.

Artist Bio: 

Simon Max Bannister was born and bred in South Africa. He recently made the big move to New Zealand after falling in love with the dramatic beauty of the land, its people and the spirit in which nature is revered and respected.

“The gesture of the piece must have grace and poise, fluidity and balance and be true to its materiality, strong enough to converse with the elements and evoke a life of its own. Hovering between dissolution and form the sculpture will find its moment of completion.”

Simons large steel sculptures reflect a sense of time and place within the elements, as they are encouraged to naturally oxidize, giving the sculptures a warm patina rich in earthy ochres. Simons smaller bronze sculptures are assembled from wood splinters, which are reminiscent of feathers, bone and sinew.

The initial form is carefully moulded and assigned to a kiln to be incinerated. Once the original form is completely burnt away, he casts the bronze into that negative space, creating a now immortalised and unique replica of the original work.

Simon honours the creative act of Art as essential daily nourishment, weaving through many mediums he has sought to refine his approach, technique and sculptural language. Simon draws deep inspiration from the remaining wild spaces and the animals bound to them.

Simon Max Bannister's unique bronze work carries a powerful essence that catches the eye and the heart. Working in wood and metal, he casts one literally into the other, to create sculptures that pair delicate and ephemeral details with bold enduring angular gestures.

His bird forms are particularly striking, capturing the character and fragility of each species through his splintered language. Each work is a respectful tribute to both natural beauty and the need to preserve it.

With his steel outdoor pieces, he often integrates industrial elements, re-imagining iron into wilder themes, such as skeletal armatures, nests, wings, feathers and branches. These works relate to his passion for the reclaiming power of nature and his belief in its restorative power.

Like guardians of the land, he hopes his sculptures can bring bold attention to the larger environment as they integrate into the landscape.

Simon Max Bannister's artistic journey is a testament to the enduring power of nature. Hailing from the vast landscapes of South Africa, his passion for wild animals and open spaces ignited a deep connection to the natural world. This connection is evident in every sculpture he creates – a tribute to nature's breathtaking beauty, ferocious resilience, and delicate fragility.

His works have found homes across continents, from Kenya and America to India and the UK. Exhibitions at prestigious venues like Christie's and collaborations with renowned organizations like the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation and the Remembering Wildlife Series further solidified his artistic impact. Sculptures gracing lodges like Londolozi, Angama, and Sher Bagh stand as silent sentinels amidst breathtaking landscapes.

For the past six years, New Zealand, particularly the Otago region, has served as his creative haven. Here, his fascination with birds continues to inspire him, translating into powerful sculptures crafted in steel and bronz