Page 12 - Cornwall Issue 6_2023

CREATIVE ART

y name potential as works of art. My
is Estian business model involves online
Gericke, I advertising on platforms like
am 29 years Facebook and Instagram,
old, and I am as well as reaching out to
Ma sculptor. friends and relatives to explore
I am the youngest of four potential commissions. While I
siblings, and I have always primarily create my own works,
been the artistic one in my I am open to fulfilling clients’
family. While my siblings chose specific requests. I also exhibit
careers in the corporate world my art in galleries to gain
and architecture, I pursued exposure; sometimes they are
my passion for art. My other auctioned, and some works
hobbies are tennis, dancing can be found in public places,
and reading. My business name such as the large scissor at the
is Steel Spark and Craft and it Jawy hairdresser in Pierre van
encompasses various creative Ryneveld and the mermaid at
aspects such as welding and King Price Menlyn.
metal casting. The primary
focus of my business is to I have encountered challenges
create sculptures that capture in the past and occasionally,
elements of life and embody I still face tight deadlines and
both masculine and feminine unforeseen problems in the
beauty. artistic process. For example,
the casting of hot metal into
My artistic journey began at a a mould can cause the mould
young age when I visited scrap to crack under the heat,
yards to collect metal pieces necessitating the re-casting of
which I then welded together the mould.
to fashion objects like soldiers
and animals. After completing My future goals include
my diploma at TUT in 2016, I establishing myself as a
secured an internship at Angus renowned artist in South Africa,
Taylor’s foundry in Silverton. with my works prominently
displayed in galleries and
There I gained invaluable public spaces. Pursuing a
experience in the art of career in the world of art is no
transforming clay sculptures easy feat, especially in South
into bronze artworks. After four Africa where it’s often viewed
years with Angus, I decided to as a luxury, and not everyone
embark on my own sculpting can afford artwork. The art
journey. Since 2021, I have industry is highly competitive,
been whole-heartedly crafting and occasionally slow sales
sculptures using recycled steel can be disheartening. However,
and aluminium. The process its vital to persist with your
involves shaping clay into passion and ambition, as these
specific artworks and then are the traits that will keep
moulding it in order for it to be you motivated. The future
cast in aluminium and steel. of the art industry appears
My business venture began promising, with numerous
with exhibitions at art galleries, corporate businesses and
and from there, word of mouth clients investing in art. People
led to commissions. are becoming more conscious
of the environmental impact of
What sets my work apart is the art market and are open
the combination of recycled to innovative methods of art
aluminium, steel and creation.
sometimes bronze. The unique
characteristics that emerge in As Albert Einstein once said:
the metal during the casting “Imagination is more important
process, along with its natural than knowledge. Knowledge is
patterns, make my artworks limited. Imagination encircles
stand out. I find great joy in the world.”
turning my imaginative ideas
into artworks which have a Email:
deeper meaning that people estiangericke@gmail.com
can relate to. Another aspect Tel: 072 628 1014
I cherish is the ability to take Instagram:
materials often deemed @steelsparkandcraft
as waste and unlock their

10 Cornwall View • Issue 5 2023