Exilumen IV
The title derives from the Latin ‘Eximo’ (carved out) and ‘Lumen’ (light). In Exilumen, unique native Irish green marble floats over and is captured by stalactites of clear resin; these then dramatically refract light around, under and through the table. It is made out of Connemara marble, which is a friable stone, and of Crystal clear resin. This material offered some challenges including: quarrying, cutting, carving it without any breakage, the resin casting process, and the weight of the marble. The carving process responds to the natural stone, and over, time and with much consideration, hones it to a form that is seductive to the touch – akin to an ancient slab, eroded in a stream, whose beauty yet endures. The work explores and celebrates contrasts, difference, singularity: how we appreciate one so much more keenly when in juxtaposition – dark with light; immensity with fragility; organic with man-made; a tapestry of colour with unadorned clarity.