Sculptor Florian’s work goes on show in Cape Town

For years steel sculptor Florian Junge of Margate has lovingly crafted unique eye-catching garden ornaments from scrap metal.

Useful items were this talented artist’s bread and butter but all this is set to change.

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This Saturday, January 26, his sculptures will for the first time be showcased at the Sun Met, one of Africa’s richest race day events which takes place at Kenilworth Racecourse in Cape Town.

Under the theme ‘African Luxury: Precious Metals’, Cape Town’s most prestigious horse-racing event combines high-end fashion with world-class entertainment, both on and off the race track.

This local artist’s main piece, which will be unveiled at the event, is a sculpture of a life-sized horse trotting confidently with an extended gait and a lead rope flapping in the wind.

According to Florian the sculpture symbolises, “When one simply runs with it despite all the naysayers and all those that insist it can’t be done. When one holds one’s head high and is no longer bound to convention or popular opinion, following one’s inner conviction.”

There will also be three of Florian’s smaller, but no less impressive sculptures on display at the event.

“For art to be good art, it must communicate. In other words, it has to speak to the onlooker in one way or another and touch something inside. This is what I hope to do when creating these sculptures. I take old reclaimed steel, transform it into works of art and hope to uplift and inspire others emotionally,” he said.

Florian has done some exquisite work over the years and his metal work is, he says, the equivalent of a pencil sketch, hinting at form and movement.

He also makes use of natural materials like granite, river pebbles and pieces of wood to enhance his metal art.

Much of his work is inspired by nature. Many pint-sized, character-filled metal creatures, made from assorted offcuts, decorate his home.

There is an element of humour to these delightful little pieces. Even something as mundane as burglar bars become works of art in Florian’s hands.

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Butterflies, African huts and flowers, rather than boring, prison-like bars, secure the windows of his home.

He loves working with metal and hopes that his latest sculpture, created just for this event, makes at least one race-goer’s heart beat a little faster on Saturday.

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