Emily Young b. 1951
Speleothem Head, 2022
Onyx
7 7/8 x 4 1/8 x 7 1/8 in
20 x 10.5 x 18 cm
20 x 10.5 x 18 cm
Speleothem is a stalactitic form of onyx which is a durable type of microcrystalline quartz and a gem known for its ability to be carved into highly detailed sculptures due...
Speleothem is a stalactitic form of onyx which is a durable type of microcrystalline quartz and a gem known for its ability to be carved into highly detailed sculptures due to the parallel bands of colour that can be cut away to produce depth. For this reason it is commonly used in jewellery, cameos and intaglios, but Young has taken this to a much larger scale. Young's objective to unify the human with the natural world through her work is expressed most literally in busts, where a face is hewn but almost seems to emerge out of the rock.
