'Shark Habitat' Bill Reynolds

art size: 15.5x28.5
 
This mixed-media wall sculpture is a striking example of post-modern folk art that uses geometric abstraction to represent marine life. The piece depicts a shark in silhouette crafted from found wood, painted green, blue and white.  This predator is layered over several vertical and diagonal blue slats, which are painted with jagged, rhythmic patterns to simulate the movement of crashing waves or light refracting through water. The contrast between the organic, mottled greens of the shark and the bright, repetitive patterns of the "habitat" creates a sense of kinetic energy. By deconstructing the form into flat, angular planes, Reynolds transforms a natural subject into a playful yet sophisticated study of color and layered dimensionality.