This sculpture is Hamish’s interpretation of a Jurassic ammonite fossil. The spiral shape of the fossilised shell is horn-like, and the term ammonite refers to the Egyptian god Ammon who wore the coiled horns of a ram.
Mankind has always had a fascination with the past. One can imagine early man might have stared with the same awe at these fossils, hundreds of millions of years old – one of the first forms of art appreciation. Hamish wanted to create a contemporary sculpture that also conveys a sense of the timeless beauty of these fossils.
Hamish has used a number of techniques to produce both form and texture. The cracks look random, but in fact have been carefully controlled by the construction of the armature. After sculpting in clay, Hamish then used a gas torch to burn the surface at high temperature. The result is the cracking, which contrasts with the geometrically precise tight ribs of the fossil.