A Tender Moment
Jamie Pickernell
Year: 2026
Materials: Corten and Stainless Steel
Artist Description:
In early 2024 guy came to me with a photo of a strange looking cage he bought on Trade Me. It was just under 3 m high and weighed about a tonne and looked like a giant dome shaped birdcage. You’re just a man to make me a sculpture out of this he said. Strewth, here we go, what an amazing opportunity!
Still not quite sure what the Cage was actually used for, it could be a blast cage used to put over explosive charges in mines or quarries to limit the flying debris from the blast, or something to do with dredging or drilling.
It took a while for inspiration to come, I came up with two ideas. One was a giant bird sitting on top of the cage with a small rabbit type person on a swing inside the cage with a small replica of the large bird resting on the rabbit’s hand. The second Idea was to turn the large cage into a dress for an AI Bird Lady shepherdess. One hand of the shepherdess is holding her crook, The other is extended in greetings to the horse. The boxy angular shape of the shepherdess is in contrast with the rolling curves of the horse, but their bond is clear. A tender moment if you will. Clevedon and the surrounding area is known for their equine activities, or more bluntly put: big into horses.
So what am I trying to portray here? A future where we achieve a harmony between artificial intelligence and organic life forms? Robotics and AI are increasingly a big part of our lives, what we once thought was pure science-fiction is now becoming a reality. An amazing, profound and scary time to be alive, the start of a new age. Our destructive impulses are all too clear, but so are our instincts to do good in the world. I am by nature an optimistic person and believe that humanity can win through to a positive future, so here’s the more tender moments with silicone based lifeforms we call AI.
Artist Bio:
Jamie Pickernell began his formal training began in 1989 with a 2 year Craft Design Maori Cert. at what was then called Waiariki Polytechnic in Rotorua. Then completed a Fine Arts Degree at what was then called Whanganui Polytechnics “Taupo Quay School of Fine Art”. Going on to set up “Jamie Pickernell Art Furniture”.
He has been the recipient of many Art Awards and or the last 19 years he has made a full time living through exhibiting in outdoor sculpture shows and commissioned works, both private and public. These commissions range from sculpture to furniture through to architectural hardware and sign housings. He is inspired by this country, it’s materials, ingenuity, culture, history, flora and forna.
