Traverse the Terrain with Willem Heyneker’s Body Sculpture and Jewellery

A Knight in Shining Armour

Much as lava oozes through the landscape, Willem Heyneker has flowed into Perth’s art scene with maximum impact. But he is no Mt Vesuvius. Despite the outer-worldly presence of some of his body sculptures and jewellery, the man himself is firmly planted on earth after many years in aviation. His view of the terrain from above remains his muse and the ground is his amphitheatre. Using materials like copper, wood, silver, gold, gilding metal, titanium and glass, he pushes beyond the conventional with the moulding of lava rock, porcupine quills, coral, and bone. Often combining several materials into one piece, the result is bold and unforgettable. Aesthetics is god over functionality.

With pieces titled Picnic at Hanging Rock, Bungle Bungles, Blue Mountains, and 80 Mile Beach, Willem remains true to his adopted Australian identity. After living aboard in the UK, Europe and Africa, his aerial perspective of the Australian landscape borders on the heavenly. However, that quintessential Australian humour creeps in with a plug adaptor converted into a brooch called Plug Me In. He has designed rings with Lego inter-changeable medieval characters, for example Knight in Shining Armour.

Operating under the company name of Why Creations Willem Heyneker weaves his magic from his studio in the tranquil Perth hills. He is a finalist in the Waterhouse Natural History Competition in South Australia for a piece titled Tingles Down My Spine, which is constructed with silver-plated kangaroo and emu bones, red coral and copper wire.

His exhibit The Stratered Earth and Grand Terrain starts the weekend of 25-27 June 2010 at the Darlington Hall. The exhibition is in conjunction with artist Leanne Bray and her vibrant paintings of the grand terrain of the Southern Hemisphere.

Willem’s creations are available from several outlets around Perth.

By Carmen Jenner www.fluffytowel.com

Contact Details:

Willem Heyneker, willem@why-creations.com, +61 8 9252 1639, 0409 780 000, www.why-creations.com

Darlington Hall, Pine Terrace, Darlington, +61 8 9299 8802

Outlets:

Form, 357 Murray St, Perth, +61 8 9226 2799, www.form.net.au

Mundaring Arts Centre, 7190 Great Eastern Hwy, +61 8 9295 3991, www.mundaringartscentre.com

Behind the Monkey, 479 Beaufort St, Highgate, +61 8 9227 7886, www.behindthemonkey.com.au

Wouldn't you love these hanging from your ears?