A trio of Oberons and Oberon's magic mirror
By Jim Pilston
Original artworks
Papier-mache and mixed media, paint - all sustainably-sourced
Height of figures: 72-77cm
Oberon figures - £245 each
Oberon's mirro - £145
Our summer show garden theme is taking many forms, as you might expect of us... Here are some of Jim Pilston's fabulous floral contributions: Oberon and his mirror, decorated with Delftware-like tulips.
Legends of Oberon, king of the fairies and elves, date back many centuries. He was said to carry a lily as a wand. In The Faerie Queene, Edmund Spenser cast him as the father of Gloriana, with whom King Arthur falls in love. Shakespeare transposes him to Greece for A Midsummer Night's Dream.
But what of the matching triptych mirror? Well, both Oberon and Titania were given a magic mirror as a wedding gift. To bring things right up to date, for Gargoyles (animation) fans, the mirror's powers allow Oberon to communicate with Princess Katharine in another part of the palace, summon Boudicca from her chamber to his throne room and travel through it with the gargoyle beast to the outside world. That's some mirror!
As ever, Jim calls on a richly-woven array of story and history to conjure up his concepts and sculptures. We did say EVERYTHING in the Garden.
ABOUT JIM PILSTON
After studying Theatre Design and Illustration, Jim worked as an illustrator for many years. Over time, his illustrative work began to emerge as three-dimensional pieces. Using papier-mache and mixed media, he explored folklore and legend – both local and European.
Ths style has now developed into a quirky and distinctive sculptural style, based on narrative and clever characterisation.
The work he creates is very instinctive: "When starting, I have a vague sense of an intended outcome but I begin working on a piece and just see who emerges. An angel, a devil, god or monster."The sources he draws on vary greatly but the stories, pictures, films and children’s television of his 1970s Cotswolds childhood are never far away.
The materials he uses are, almost entirely, sourced within a mile or two of hs Stroud home. They are found materials that are repurposed and recycled. The paper is from the used paper recycling process, the structures are made from scrap wood and plastics, such as discarded estate agents signs and, in the main, the paints and varnishes are the incorrect mixes and “mis-tints” from paint manufacturers and DIY stores.
"As an artisan, I get a thrill out of creating something magical, and perhaps sacred, out of materials that can be found in skips and bins up and down the country."
Jim's work is exhibited regionally and is in numerous private collections.