SCULPTURE
2020:
Lady of Light
The Lady of Light is the latest sculpture by artist Clare Ralph Leonty, featuring radioactive uranium glass.
The controversial piece draws attention to how we are polluting our planet and places an emphasis on how, in return, our planet is poisoning us.
The sculpture is of the torso of a woman sculpted in radioactive uranium glass, embedded within clear glass, and is designed to be seen in the dark under ultra violet light. In its specially designed frame, surrounded by noise sensitive lights; their eerie glow picks out the ultra violet light-sensitive pieces of bright green uranium glass deep within her body.
“I wanted to make a statement about our toxic lives,” said artist Clare Ralph Leonty. “We eat meat from animals that are over-dosed with drugs; we breathe in the toxic fumes from the phosphates they spray on the weeds on our pavements; we’re apparently full of micro beads of plastic that make their way into the food chain and the sun is now
giving us cancer because our protective ozone layer is being destroyed by global warming.
“Certain types of coral are phosphorescent and the coral reefs are being destroyed. Other corals and underwater plants emit this light when
they are in danger; when the sea temperature
rises, due to global warming.
“This is my statement on modern living, and the way we will end up if we carry on in our self- destructive ways.”
Toxic Lady is a one off piece that Clare made with Timothy Harris of the award winning Isle of Wight Studio Glass at his studio in Arreton. It can be seen there, although only by appointment as the sculpture has to be seen in the dark, lit by the ‘black lights’.
Poem By Brian Patten
Celebrated Liverpool Poet Brian Patten was moved to pen a short poem about Clare’s latest creation.
“I’ve always loved Clare’s work,” said Brian.
“The last time I saw her, about 20 years ago, she was making dinosaur bone jewellery, which was fantastic. This Toxic Lady is something quite different, and she deserves a few words.”
Toxic Lady
by Brian Patten
She was so beautiful
that some men thought her toxic.
They were afraid of the way she’d glow-
Timid men afraid of being burnt by her,
She remained a mystery
that they’d never know.
Yet others were so amazed by her
That unquestioning they would go
Into the fire that surrounded her,
And they found that it burnt
as cool as snow,
As cool and fresh as the purest snow.
2015:
Succulent Art
2014:
Stained Glass & Slate
2012:
Ammonite Sculpture
Comissioned 2012 stained glass ammonite 10 ft high garden sculpture inspired by the south coast fossils we find on the beach.
2006:
Robin Hill Oak Stag Sculpture
As part of a sculpture trail at Robin Hill, on the Isle of Wight, Clare designed and crafted yet another sculpture.
As not one to disappoint, Clare built one of the most striking pieces in the trail. An extraordinary 11-ft stag made from a type of oak called 'stag oak'.
'Stag oak' is the the dead wood sometimes found at the top of oak trees, and Clare decided it would be fitting to make a stag from these pieces.
2001:
Easter Island Head
