Why does Stonehenge Inspire my Art?

I have been making and creating things with my hands I would say since school. I remember I was lucky to have access to ceramics and art classes. At the time I just enjoyed experimenting and leaning about the wider field of ceramics and art. It was the only thing I gravitated to so I just stuck to it. Plus I remember my teacher saying I was good at ceramics.

From this I then went onto taking up ceramic design at University to experiment more in clay. This then led me to study a Masters Degree at Cardiff School of Art and Design, UK to experiment further with ceramics and generate new ideas.
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Deciding? 
At the beginning of my MA course we were assigned with choosing an object or image to start our thought process into possible concepts that could be explored in our ceramic practice. Initially I had looked at a range of subjects mainly of ancient artefacts such as stone carvings and functional objects etc. What I was drawn to was their histories, it made me question is function, purpose and who made them. However what really interested me was the the way I approached these subjects. I did not read too much into the descriptions about them, I used my eyes to see the image first, to experience it in my own way.

There is no sign to tell me exactly what it is?
I realised that with out any explanation about an object we are left to decipher its meaning using our imagination. It was this mode of thinking that led me to the monument Stonehenge located in Salisbury, England. It fitted this way of thinking as there is no sign to tell people exactly what it is. Sure we can get a sense that it is an architectural space of some sort. It is thought to be a religious site or temple and was constructed to align with the movements of the sun, honour ancestors and mark important moments in the calendar. However as far as I am aware there is no concrete evidence of what this monument was used for. Humans are left to guess and imagine for ourselves its mystery?

It is this constant intervention of human activity upon this architectural space that interests me. People are constantly implementing new meaning or ideas to try to unravel its mystery. In a sense the monument is constantly in a state of change, new stories are created, and our experience of the place will always be different. 

A place of pilgrimage? 
This ancient monument draws people from all over the world including myself to travel to see this ancient site.

I noticed people taking photographs either of the monument or of themselves with it and people engaging in conversation with each other such as recalling what information they know about it or speculating its meaning, then there were some people who just walked around and around as if just deep in thought.

What strikes my mind is that this place seems to be a place of pilgrimage. We seem to be drawn to it. Do we want to know more about it? Do we come here to marvel at it? Do we want to understand the past? Is it a place were people can record their lives or revisit a memory?

Questions, but no Answers?
Its this this process of questioning that evokes my interest in this monument. 

It leads me to think about:
What it is
Who made it
Space
Time
Imagination 
Contemplation 
Our place in the universe
Society
Belief
The Human experience

It is these topics and ideas that shift its way into the creation of my artworks.

If you would like to visit Stonehenge and see the mystery for yourself, you are welcome to check out the map bellow.​

Perhaps in this day and age we want to know the answers to anything and everything. But if we knew the answer to everything would life be interesting? 

If you would like to know more about my Art Journey you are welcome to view my (About) page.

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I hope you found this information useful.
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