Today we’d like to introduce you to S. P. Harper.
Hi S. P., so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My art arose out of a deep concern observing the declining health of our world’s environment. As a family of recyclers, we were more interested in repurposing rather than generating new material. Reducing our carbon footprint became an inherited mantra. Actions such as volunteering for library-donated book sale fundraisers or beautifully tie-dying used clothing from friends and family for boutique resale provided inspiration, fomenting my artistic oeuvre. By placing the emphasis on recycling, this mission started an Eco-centric journey of using salvaged materials as the basis for my art. My work illuminates a path to reducing excessive consumerism and has become especially popular with the generations who will inherit our world.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My work is intensely personal, inspired by a diamantaire (diamond-cutter) grandfather, and was formerly dismissed by many viewers and collectors who could not recognize the vision expressed in the pieces. Working in such a vacuum became difficult without public recognition. However through sheer perseverance, I have witnessed increasing understanding developing over time. My art continues influencing viewers to reduce waste, attracting collectors and securing international exhibitions.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Part of eco-centric art, aka neo-materialism, I sculpt and paint abstract geometrics using reclaimed materials, synthesizing historical and contemporary styles by mixing the classical tradition of still-life with modernism. Through reforming and re-employing elements, my work reduces, re-uses and up-cycles. Applying diverse media such as discarded wallpaper, tablecloth, curtain, metal, plastic and wood fragments, I employ various disciplines including MIG welding, circular saw (with diamond blade!), table saw, jigsaw, sewing, oil and acrylic painting. My subject matter includes multi-faceted, reflective and enigmatic gemstones. This muse has become an ever-continuing source of artistic expression, an engaging puzzle for me to solve. In finding artistic focus the beauty of geometrics together with my interest in cooling the planet fuse together. A newly developed interest is the exploration of creating NFT art using clean crypto on the Tezos blockchain.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Exploring NFT minting using cryptocurrency on the blockchain is an unavoidable risk to the contemporary artist. Personally, experiencing a hack resulted in a loss of my entire holdings. The meta-verse is a Wild West without regulation. Exposing myself to energy exploitive cryptocurrencies can be avoided with exhaustive research to ensure energy-responsible NFT activity.
Additionally, there is certainly an element of risk working in a large scale over 110 X 80 inches as there is a pervasive lack of galleries and exhibition spaces able to accommodate them. There is still the need to work largely as it enables a greater understanding of the skills required to master the details of illusion.
Pricing:
- 17,711 Karats: $900
- 196,418 Karats: $200 – $400
- ‘Brigid’ Brilliant-cut Diamond: $400
- ‘Fornax’ Miners-cut Oval Diamond: $900
- ‘Lalahon’ Brilliant-cut Diamond: $300
Contact Info:
- Website: https://spharper.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s.p.harper/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susan.p.harper.52
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SPHarperArt
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=s.+p.+harper
Image Credits
S. P. Harper
