Metal is a stubborn material — that is, until it has the opportunity to be hammered, cut, melded and molded by the forces of nature or by the will of a genius hand.
“The Sun Never Sets”. (Courtesy of Kyle James Dunn.)
Kyle James Dunn bleeds the notion of contradiction with his sculpture The Sun Never Sets and impales the principle of illusion with Green Island Dreams, Dream Green Islands.
Quiet Lunch was fortunate enough to catch up with the 20-something-year-old Michigan native who adequately explained the nature of his craft:
“Essentially, the plasma-cutting really scarifies the surface of the steel–it’s left burnt and quite sharp. The candy color of the paint gives the surface a smooth plastic feel until you get up close and realize how damaged and rough it is.
All of these vacation pieces are about illusion and that was really important in deciding how to treat them — Green Island Dreams, Dream Green Islands’ gradient is lifted from Paramount Picture’s logo.” – Kyle James Dunn.
“The Sun Never Sets”. (Courtesy of Kyle James Dunn.)
“The Sun Never Sets”. (Courtesy of Kyle James Dunn.)
“The Sun Never Sets”. (Courtesy of Kyle James Dunn.)
“The Sun Never Sets”. (Courtesy of Kyle James Dunn.)
“The Sun Never Sets”. (Courtesy of Kyle James Dunn.)
“Green Island Dreams, Dream Green Islands”. (Courtesy of Kyle James Dunn.)
“Green Island Dreams, Dream Green Islands”. (Courtesy of Kyle James Dunn.)
“Green Island Dreams, Dream Green Islands”. (Courtesy of Kyle James Dunn.)
Like we said, metal is a stubborn foe, but Dunn seems undaunted. When asked about his approach to each series, Dunn said:
“Research, research, research. I usually spend extraneous amounts of time gathering information for the first piece in a series. The initial sculpture is the hardest to make, but afterwards the whole process becomes more fluid.” – Kyle James Dunn.
“(91°61’61”, 181°61’61”)”. (Courtesy of Kyle James Dunn.)
“(91°61’61”, 181°61’61”)”. (Courtesy of Kyle James Dunn.)
“(91°61’61”, 181°61’61”)”. (Courtesy of Kyle James Dunn.)
“(91°61’61”, 181°61’61”)”. (Courtesy of Kyle James Dunn.)
In fact, Dunn’s works reek of painstaking preparation and execution; a demonstration of a true genius at work. Dunn’s unselfish need to enlighten his audience through the debunking of pervasive cultural myths is a never-ending process that is he more than willing to forge through.
Quiet Lunch is a grassroot online publication that seeks to promote various aspects of life and culture with a loving, but brute, educational tinge. When we say, “Creative Sustenance Daily,” we mean it.