Thorn Pole - Darren Gilbert

Darren Gilbert has a deep passion for Australia's environment, and he strives to live in harmony with the natural world around him. His home and studio seamlessly blend into the surrounding landscape, with no sharp lines separating his existence from the land. Inside the studio, detailed drawings of native birds take shape in various stages, from small preliminary sketches to large, intricate black-and-white ink works. Darren's new artistic journey includes a series of garden-friendly sculptures, which will be exhibited at Marian Renee’s stunning gardens and gallery in Acheron. Over the past six months, he has been creating sculptures revolving around a boat theme—vessels that hold dreams, shapes, and environmental elements.

The core of this new series involves recycling ideas and materials, with each sculpture made from metal pieces that carry a sense of history. Sourced from old farms, sheds, and homes across Victoria, the metal absorbs the sounds and stories of its past, giving each piece a unique narrative or secret to keep. Darren's work is distinguished by the amount of planning, engineering, and time invested in every sculpture. He explains that each piece follows the Fibonacci Sequence, or the rule of thirds, a mathematical equation that maps out the structure of his works. This formula, which mirrors the spiral patterns found in nature and aesthetically pleasing art, guides the creation of each sculpture...