Visual Art – Perth
Born and raised in the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, self-taught artist Simon Bourne begun creating wire bonsai sculptures in late 2017.
Growing up in sunny WA Simon naturally enjoyed a lifestyle filled with sport, sun and surf. In 2010, while holidaying with family and friends in Bali, Simon suffered a freak pool accident which left the then 32-year-old paralysed from the chest down.
After months of intensive rehabilitation Simon returned to work as Course Superintendent at Cottesloe Golf Club, a job he has held for over 20 years. Having learnt to adapt to his new way of life, the limitations of his injury meant that a lot of the pastimes Simon relished were no longer physically possible, but with this came the opportunity to explore new pursuits.
Fast forward seven years and the discovery of a new, creative hobby to keep his mind and soul fulfilled. Having always had an interest in bonsai, traditionally seen as a meditative exercise and vehicle for contemplation, Simon’s wire bonsai sculptures have provided a relaxing outlet and rewarding time in which he can reflect.
Each one of a kind sculpture is handcrafted using twisted wire, mounted to a unique base. It takes many hours of fine detail work to construct, shape and mount each bonsai tree. Every length of wire used in the trees runs uninterrupted from the root to the leaves, with no adhesive or soldering it is held together by friction alone to create a harmonious yet sturdy structure.
Simon works in a range of mediums including copper, silver and aluminium wire and stone, driftwood, hanging frames, ceramic bases.