Mould Making for Lost Wax Bronze Casting in Bangkok, Thailand

 

I've just returned from Bangkok, Thailand where I was making a video documenting the process of mould making for lost wax bronze casting.

Frenchman Pierre Cerviotti, mould maker demonstrated the process by making a mould of Blake's latest sculpture. Pierre, has 19 years experience as a mould maker and continues to use moulding techniques that date back to ancient Greece. Basic mould making is taught at art schools around the world but not as comprehensively, or with the precision that Pierre employs. Canadian born Blake, has been working with Pierre for many years and his sculptures are found in galleries in Europe and the Americas. Of particular interest, is Blake's devotion to raising money to clear land mines. To date he has raised $200,000 USD from the sale of his Fragments sculpture series. It was in a chance meeting at Thavibu Gallery in Bangkok, that I first met Blake in February 2009.

A few days ago we met with bronze foundry manager Thai Parinya Senadisai, whom we were introduced to by Ajarn Sanya Wong-Aram from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. In the photo (from left to right) is Pierre Cerviotti, Blake Ward, Parinya Senadisai and Wendy Grace Allen

Below are some links about lost wax casting, and Blake's sculpture:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost-wax_casting
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blake_(sculptor)
http://www.blakefragments.com/
http://www.blakesculpture.com/flash_site/index-flash.html.

The Earth's waters are both boundaries and pathways for peoples, objects and ideas.

Fumio Nanjo

Bronze Casting Foundry - Thailand

In June, I visited Asia Fine Art bronze foundry in Ayutthaya, Thailand to consider working with them on future bronze artworks. I've made a short video of bronze sculptures and the foundry. You can get an idea of the bronze casting process which requires many stages and a high skill level to complete the technical process. Bronze casting also requires a lot of equipment and workshop space. I have made bronze artworks previously, completing each stage of the process in workshops where I was privileged to be taught by New Zealand artist Paul Dibble.

By the way, I have no idea who the Thai artist is (I can't read his name in Thai) whose playing the soundtrack that's accompanying the video, or what he's saying! We were in a cafe in Phuket town, heard his music playing and were reminded of Bob Dylan, so we bought the CD to remember the relaxing experience. Hope you enjoy it even if you don't understand the lyrics.

The Earth's waters are both boundaries and pathways for peoples, objects and ideas.

Fumio Nanjo