FLOYD ELZINGA

“I am drawn to the distinction between polar opposites. Subsequently, duality is an underlying theme in my work. I employ natural and non-traditional sculpting materials to create conceptual sculptures, but more than a decade of steel fabrication has made metals my dominant choice of materials. I was initially drawn to using steel as a material because of its plastic nature. It is a common, fast working material that is very forgiving allowing me to sketch my thoughts in line-drawing style panels and persuasively formed sculptures. As a sculptor, my work is predominately three dimensional, but recently I developed ‘painter envy’ and decided to work ‘two dimensionally’.” – Floyd Elzinga

Bio

Rotten stumps, broken branches, invasive species, ravaged trees as well as polar opposites and dysfunctional objects; these are the things that excite Floyd Elzinga. He has made a career out of highlighting and glorifying these through three dimensional sculpture, relief work and environmental installations for over 15 years. Current themes in his work focus on broken landscapes, portraits of trees and the aggressive nature of seeds.

Floyd received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Nova Scotia College of Art & Design in Halifax, NS. He was initially drawn to steel, due to its malleable, plastic and forgiving nature, and he continues to utilize its range of colours as well as the way light plays off the surface. He has been exploring traditional metal working techniques to create textures and depth the same way a painter would use a paintbrush.

Floyd Elzinga took an eight-day journey to the Everest region in Nepal to take part in the Sagarmatha Next Centre ‘Waste to Art’ exhibition. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN