A STORY OF LIGHT
My work pays homage to my home, Land of the First Light, Aotearoa New Zealand. It is inspired by Te Ao Marama ( the world of light ) acknowledging light as both a physical presence and a source of cultural and spiritual significance.
My Radiance series began with a simple question: What does light become when it takes form?
As I work with brass, I slowly uncover the light that lives within the material. Through engraving, patination, and the continual process of adding and subtracting, every surface begins to reveal its own language.It’s a journey of discovery as the work unfolds, allowing light, texture, and process to guide what wants to emerge. The finished piece feels less like something I have constructed and more like an unveiling.
I've always been fascinated by the way nature repeats itself—from the cellular structures revealed under a microscope to the vast formations of distant galaxies. The same rhythms seem to exist everywhere. Light is the thread that connects them all. It is the first evidence of a star coming into being, and the same force that brings these metallic surfaces to life as they shift and respond to the ever changing light conditions throughout the day.
I often think about the God Spark—the omni presence of light that exists within all living things, within the universe itself. My work is allowing the invisible to be visible. As light moves across each piece, the work continually changes, inviting each viewer into their own unique experience where no two encounters are ever the same.
For me, these works are a reminder to slow down and notice to become curious again. Offering an invitation to witness light not only as illumination, but as something alive—a force that shapes the world around us and quietly connects us to something much larger than ourselves.
"To bring these works to life is not only a calling, but a privilege—an opportunity to activate the light.” Daniel Blanshard
Instagram : daniel_blanshard
