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With over 20 large scale permanent works completed in Ireland, UK, Australia and Canada, long time interests in science, origami and music inform Pentek’s work on both practical and philosophical levels.
Alex Pentek
County Cork, Ireland
"I enjoy making site specific work to playfully explore the interconnectedness of all things."
Alex Pentek is an Irish artist who has a growing portfolio of national and international work that explores different site specific ideas in a broad range of materials. As well creating large scale site specific work, his gallery based practice explores temporary mediums such as folded paper and sound performance which he has exhibited across Ireland, UK and Australia.With over 20 large scale permanent works completed in Ireland, UK, Australia and Canada, long time interests in science, origami and music inform Pentek’s work on both practical and philosophical levels.
Wescover creator since 2019
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Q&A
How do your pieces come to life? Tell us one interesting thing about your creative process?
"Sometimes I work with permeable open forms that create an interference pattern with itself and the background. The moire effect is said to be a virtual image in the eye of the beholder, similar to how we uniquely see the colours of a rainbow. With all my work, the images are suggested where possible to give an impression of the idea. As it is seen and completed in the mind's eye of the viewer, this helps to create an emotional investment in the work. It is my aim for each work to have a life of its own as it is re interpreted and given new meaning by viewers of all ages and back grounds."
Alex Pentek
Q&A
What do you want people to do or feel when they encounter your creations?
"By using a mixture of scale and symbolism my work aims to connect with viewer on a personal level as I believe it is ultimately the viewer who completes the work. Reactions to my work vary from aesthetic beauty to a deeper appreciation and re interpretation of the ideas behind the work. The beauty of sculpture is that is must be negotiated in space, and I enjoy people's intuitive response to the work as they encounter it. This can create a legacy and a community of shared experience."
Alex Pentek
Q&A
What funny moments, unexpected surprises, or obstacles have you encountered?
"When I was commissioned to create a site specific response to the new revenue commissioners building in Cork City, Ireland, I secretly used my own wire haired terrier named Bery as a model to carve an 8 ton block of limestone into a sculpture of a watch dog. To my embarrassment I was discovered by the commissioner on a surprise visit to my studio, but he loved Beryl so much he asked if we could name the sculpture after her! Beryl is now 15 years old and has a 3 m tall heroic scale sculpture of her in the city... her name is bigger
than mine on the plaque!"
than mine on the plaque!"
Alex Pentek