Orla de Brí

Public Sculpture

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Orla has completed twenty site-specific public sculptures. She enjoys working at a large scale; her pieces are conceptually strong and visually striking. Although the sculpture is grand in scale it is important to de Brí that it also works on an intimate level. Having a human element in the sculpture draws people in and makes it easy for them to connect with the piece. Her work is predominately figurative, she sometimes combines solitary highly stylised figures with abstract shapes or elements from nature. Throughout her work there is always communication and interaction.

‘The bastard son of Sisyphus’ was based on the Greek myth of Sisyphus, where a man was destined to spend eternity pushing a ball up a hill only to have it roll back down again, representing the drudgery of every day life. In this piece his son sees the error in his fathers ways and decides to stand at the top of the hill and contemplate the ball; seeking a different perspective.

‘Perch’ is a 5-meter sculpture that consists of an arc of vivid blue curved steel with a seated bronze female figure perched at the top.

This bronze stylised female is textured and polished to give a warm gold colour. The figure’s poise is relaxed, she observes from her elevated perch, sitting among the hustle and bustle of everyday life. This piece is about taking a moment to appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of yourself and your surroundings.

Whether large or small scale de Brí has developed a unique and distinctive style, her fascination with people and how they relate to the world we live in is evident in this body of public sculpture.