MEET FREDERICK BEEL
What was the inspiration behind your piece for SWELL Sculpture Festival 2022?
I had some left over stainless steel spheres from a previous project and I wanted to see how I could use them in a kinetic sculpture. As I was experimenting with the spheres I found they were reluctant to move, even under quite windy conditions. This lead me into some research into the physics of a sphere moving through air, this was when I found out about the Magnus Effect. In my sculpture I am trying to capture that effect.
What does exhibiting in the 20th year of SWELL Sculpture Festival mean to you?
I was fortunate to be selected last year and as much as enjoyed showing my work I was more interested in the people and the process. I wanted to immerse myself, so I did quite a bit of volunteer work. This year I wish to build on the relationships and create new ones.
What are the three art mediums you couldn’t live without?
Metal is my number one medium, followed by timber and found objects.
What is the best piece of advice that you’ve ever received?
My best price of artistic advice I received was something like, “just keep creating and don’t get attached to your stuff”.
If you could wake up tomorrow in the body of another artist, who would you pick and what would you do?
Maybe Leonardo Da Vinci, he was both and artist and an engineer, I like that combo. I would use his genius to try and make the world a better place.
What is the best compliment for an artist to receive?
It’s nice to hear someone say, “they get it”, especially if it’s a bit wild or abstract.
Do you believe in ghosts or have any good unexplainable stories?
Nothing supernatural, but if someone can explain to me why human beings can’t just co-exists and treasure our planet, that would be a mystery put to bed.
If you had to get a tattoo of a famous artwork, what would it be?
Something abstract and colourful by Kandinsky.
Do you believe pineapple belongs on a pizza?
No, we are not animals!
Besides, pineapples aren’t native to Italy…the end.
Do you have a power outfit that you wear while creating?
Heavy cotton shirts and trousers with capped boots, more an outfit of necessity.
I might have a power cap/hat somewhere?
If you could travel back to any point in time, when and where would you go and why?
If I could go back in time and I could divert the asteroid that crashed into the earth that wiped out the dinosaurs, that could be interesting. Seeing how the animal kingdom evolved without mammals becoming the dominate species. Mmm? That’s a movie right there Mr Spielberg…
Is a connection to place important for you and your work?
I have my man-cave, and a lot goes on in that space, but creative ideas can come at anytime and anywhere.
The Author
Joss Smith is an emerging graphic designer based in Tweed Heads, loving everything visual and immersive. Her passion for the creative arts has led her to study a Bachelor of Visual Communication and Graphics. She hopes to balance her love for the arts, culture and nature with her strengths in communication and management to create wicked designs with wicked people.