Johnathan Freemantle Candlestick, Forever Burning (I)

In Jonathan’s own words: “This is a candlestick that resembles a totem. Totem (from Ojibwe: ᑑᑌᒼ or ᑑᑌᒻ doodem) is a spirit being, a sacred object or symbol that serves as an emblem of a group of people, such as a family, clan, lineage or tribe. Carved from a section of oak, this totem evokes the ancient concept of the ‘Eternal Flame’. I intended for this candlestick to resemble a figure/figures twisting and reaching upwards; an antennae of sorts, simultaneously ready to transmit and receive.”

“The surface of the candlestick is finished in the Yakisugi style, the traditional Japanese system practiced over many millennia of slightly charring the surface of the wood without combusting the whole piece to prevent insect attack, rot and weathering.”

“Carving is a mysterious process where the feedback from the wood is as important as the ideas I have to impose on it. Each piece of wood holds its own mystery. I am trying to access a deeper level of connection, where my own ego sits back and the work is then a result of a more intimate, instinctive process. This kind of alchemy requires a deep level of trust in the sensations received in the body; often I feel like I’m just listening to the wood itself. So the resulting work usually comes as a surprise to me.”

What is your favourite aspect of Scottish winter?

“I love the light. The scarcity of it makes it more precious somehow. And the quality of the light is so pure, so soft. It arrives through windows almost blindingly at times, with the sun slung so low on the horizon, but always with a softness that feeds my being.”

Height 70cm, diameter 9.5 cm