Within

2026

Reclaimed Oregon · Mild Steel · Gold Leaf

2100 × 1300 × 1300 mm

Within began as an exploration of what exists beneath the surface.

A dark, weathered exterior gives way to a luminous interior, creating a tension between what we see from the outside and what is revealed within.

The Idea

I wanted to explore the idea of something being opened.

Not simply broken apart, but changed.

I kept coming back to things I see in nature — seed pods opening, bark splitting, timber weathering and the way growth creates its own pathways through a material.

I was interested in what happens when something that initially appears closed begins to reveal what is held inside.

Within became an exploration of that tension between exterior and interior — between darkness and light, protection and vulnerability, what we see and what remains hidden.

The Structure

The form began with a structure of mild steel.

Twelve vertical ribs and a series of horizontal rings created the framework, establishing the volume and allowing the shape to be developed gradually.

Rather than beginning with a solid block of timber, I was able to build the form from the inside out.

The structure became the skeleton of the sculpture — something that would eventually disappear beneath layers of timber, while continuing to hold the form together.

The Skin

The exterior was clad in Oregon shingles and treated using Shou Sugi Ban.

There is something powerful about using fire to transform the surface of timber.

The process begins with something familiar — timber — and changes it through heat, flame and time.

The surface cracks, curls and darkens. Washing the charred timber reveals different textures and patterns, and each piece responds slightly differently.

I wasn't trying to make the timber look perfect.

I wanted the history of the process to remain visible.