Jesse Ede’s vision for Solar Portal was to create a large-scale artefact reminiscent of ancient Egypt, whose people worshipped the sun god Ra. The textured bronze surface of this wall-based circular panel – the result of open-cast smelting – gives way to a mirror-polished oblong area in the centre. The panel portrays the sun opening up with a portal that in-turn reflects the viewer, or worshipper, inside it. Jesse is a self-taught designer who favours a materials and process-driven approach. Working primarily in aluminium, stone, bronze and brass, he looks to celebrate the rawness of uncontrollable outcomes, from processes that are uncommonly used.
DATE/
2019
MATERIALS/
Open cast and polished bronze
DIMENSIONS/
100 x 100 x 5 cm
STYLE/
Contemporary
HERITAGE/
South Africa