Description
Star Gazer is a remarkable bronze sculpture, a unique piece created in 2024, that eloquently embodies humanity’s profound and perennial fascination with the cosmos. Standing at a height of 22.5 cm and with a weight of 6.6 kg, its compact form nevertheless conveys a vastness of spirit. The sculpture, with its rich, deep brown patina characteristic of expertly treated bronze, glows with warm undertones where light graces its subtly undulating surfaces. This finish enhances the piece’s tactile allure and its sense of timelessness, as if it were an ancient artefact imbued with celestial narratives.
The artwork’s title is not merely descriptive but deeply thematic, inviting contemplation on our place in the universe. As the artist posits, “Born from recycled stardust of a distant supernova, we look at the heavens, yearning to connect with this Source.” Star Gazer thus symbolises a soul utterly absorbed by the universe’s secrets, giving form to the innate human desire and the profound sense of longing and wonder that propels us to look beyond our terrestrial confines and experience a state of Oneness. The upward tilt and abstracted features of the figure suggest a being lost in cosmic reverie, its very essence straining towards an understanding that transcends the mundane.
This compelling piece is a creation of Jos Steenkamp(SA 1957), an artist whose work is deeply informed by his extensive background as Dr Jo Steenkamp, a renowned Clinical Psychologist based in Pretoria. Dr Steenkamp, who received his doctorate in Psychology in 1991, is the pioneering originator of the SHIP® (Spontaneous Healing Intra, systemic Process) psychotherapeutic method. His innovative contributions to psychology have spanned nearly four decades, focusing with remarkable dedication on the spontaneous healing of trauma and the complex psycho, biological regulation of internal dis, ease. In 2001, he established The SHIP® Foundation, where he continues to serve as CEO and lead trainer, extending his influence both locally and internationally. Dr Steenkamp’s return to sculpting in 2021, after a 22 year hiatus dedicated to developing SHIP®, marked a significant confluence of his two passions. This return was more than a revival; it was a profound “coming home,” uniting his deep, empathetic understanding of the human psyche with the tangible, intuitive process of working with clay, the precursor to his bronze castings.
Star Gazer can be seen as a sublime metaphor for the inner journey that Dr Steenkamp’s psychological work facilitates, a journey towards wholeness and connection with something larger than the self. The yearning to connect with “Source” mirrored in the sculpture resonates with the SHIP® method’s aim to help individuals reconnect with their authentic selves and heal from trauma by accessing innate, spontaneous healing capacities. The sculpture speaks of transcending earthly concerns, a theme that parallels the therapeutic goal of moving beyond the limitations imposed by past hurts and internal dis, ease towards a state of expanded consciousness and wellbeing. Jos Steenkamp, views his sculptures as “vessels of relational energy,” emerging from an intuitive interplay of the conscious and unconscious.
Star Gazer, in its silent contemplation of the cosmos, invites the viewer into this relational exchange, prompting a shared experience of wonder, presence, and the profound human need for meaning. It is a sculptural poem about aspiration, about the part of us that is indeed recycled stardust, intrinsically linked to the universe and forever seeking that resonant connection with its infinite mystery and the experience of Oneness it promises. This piece, guided by the artist’s characteristic gratitude and spiritual depth, truly encourages a dialogue between our inner cosmos and the vast universe that cradles us.
Artist: Jos Steenkamp (SA1957)
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