CHAINSAW NEWTON
Chainsaw Newton is a self-taught chainsaw woodcarver from Northern Rivers, NSW. His work reveals an imaginative, often whimsical or humorous abstraction of simple elements sourced and inspired by his local environment. Chainsaw exclusively uses reclaimed woods and timbers from his locale, frequently sourcing and restoring vintage woodworking tools and chainsaws from garage sales. “New is fleeting, but old is forever. I believe there’s intrinsic beauty in giving materials and tools a second life.” Chainsaw’s art often features local fauna, serving as a narrative vehicle. 2022 marks his fifth year exhibiting at the Swell Sculpture Festival.
Extant Dipnoi
380 million years is a long time to go unnoticed. Enter the Queensland lungfish. If you look up ‘living fossil’ in the dictionary, you’ll find a picture of one. Believe it or not, Chainsaw Newton met one at a recent music festival (true story). Ever since then, he’s been trying to make up for lost time by spreading the word about this remarkable prehistoric fish. His work, ‘Extant Dipnoi,’ represents his newfound obsession with this absolutely remarkable creature – the Queensland Lungfish.
Can you describe your creative process from concept to completion?
2am weird idea -> draw a bad pencil sketch -> make a small wooden model -> leave it lying around the house for a few weeks–> stare at it a lot -> source the biggest log i can find/ haul home -> attack it with chainsaws and power tools -> set it on fire ->sand off MOST of the burnt bits.
Where do you look for inspiration? What themes do you find most interesting?
I think Inspiration is like true love.If you go out searching for it you won’t find it.It will usually only find you when you stop looking.And like true love, you’ll know it when it happens.My inspiration this for this years sculpture piece came from a chance encounter with a lungfish at the bottom of a lake in a music festival on New Year’s Eve.
How do you feel when you see people interacting with your sculptures?
Sculpture is how I communicate.The way you communicate back to me is through interaction and emotion.It’s that school kid that ignores the ” do not touch” sign, it’s the lady that snaps a photo of my art so she can show her friends at brunchIt’s the old dude that gets up close to see what powertool I’ve used to carve the wood with.It’s the wry grin from a dog walker, it’s the head-tilted ponder of an art lover.It’s a heart emoji on Instagram from a stranger.
Describe your dream project.
Design brief – Maurice Sendak meets Lovecraft’s Cthulhu. No budget. No deadline. Riverside wood workshop with a dog that barks whenever interesting driftwood floats by. Long summer days, log fire nights, misty mornings, good coffee.
Instagram @chainsawnewton
Come and see for yourself at SWELL Sculpture Festival, Pacific Parade, Currumbin 6th – 15th September.