Ferdi B Dick 2026: Crystal Animal Sculptures
South African sculptor Ferdi B Dick unveils a new crystal series capturing animal roars, inspired by yoga breath and metal oxide casting.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Ferdi B Dick crafts crystal animal sculptures featuring open-mouthed roars.
- The gesture draws inspiration from Simhasana, the lion's breath in yoga.
- The Crystal Roar series includes dragons, lions, rabbits, and elephants.
- Each piece is hand-finished after being cast using metal oxides.
South African-born sculptor Ferdi B Dick has introduced a new collection of animal sculptures defined by a recurring gesture: an open mouth paired with an extended tongue. Rather than symbolizing aggression, the artist interprets this form as an expression of release and exhalation, drawing a conceptual parallel to Simhasana, the lion's breath practice in yoga.
This distinct visual motif spans multiple scales across the artist's portfolio, ranging from monumental public installations like the 8-meter-tall whale sculpture titled Embrace the Amazing Whale on the waterfront in Zhanjiang, China, installed in December 2023, to gallery-scale works such as Lion Roar shown at Everard Read in Johannesburg in 2023.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The newly unveiled Crystal Roar series translates this expressive gesture into a fragile and translucent medium. Encompassing works like Dragon Roar, Lion Roar, Bunnie Roar, and Ellie Roar, every sculpture originates from a digital 3D model before undergoing the lost-wax casting process.
The transition from monumental public metalwork to delicate collector crystal highlights the versatility of Dick's sculptural vocabulary. By employing advanced digital animation backgrounds in his initial design phase, the artist bridges modern technology with meticulous traditional hand-crafting techniques, exploring how varied densities of crystal manipulate natural light.
During the casting phase, metal oxides are introduced to achieve distinct colorways, with each hue requiring precise firing temperatures. Once cast, the crystal pieces undergo rigorous hand-cutting, grinding, sandblasting, and polishing. The material qualities allow different colors to interact uniquely with light, such as violet catching illumination differently compared to light-absorbing darker crystals.
Before dedicating himself full-time to sculpture, Ferdi B Dick studied 3D animation and operated an animation studio in Cape Town for two decades. He currently operates out of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with public installations featured in Chinese cities including Taiyuan, Zhanjiang, and Guangzhou.
Source: designboom
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