Art is an instinctual, sometimes radical act that is part of the expression of being human.
For Joel Sorensen, making art is a primal impulse involving an intuitive relationship to materials and forms. After completing a Bachelor of Music at Melbourne University playing Viola da Gamba in various ensembles, Joel felt drawn to explore other forms of creative expression, turning to the language of sculpture and design.
Building a dedicated art studio on the edge of the Chewton bushlands, Joel has found the space and inspiration necessary to develop a unique style. Carving directly in wood, modelling in clay and casting in bronze, cement and plaster; Sorensen creates figurative, metamorphic, and abstract forms with enigmatic qualities inspired by the natural world around him.
Reclaiming fallen timber like Cypress and Sugar Gum, Joel works the wood with chainsaw, axe and chisel, carving and marking until the forms emerge. The surfaces are then finished in various ways with charring, lime and milk washes, pigments, synthetic paint and wax giving each work it’s own unique character.
When modelling in clay, he mostly uses the traditional technique of making a Waste Mould where the unique cast form is revealed as the plaster mould is chiselled off, creating a painterly texture that is further enhanced with various patinas. These powerful works are resonant with archetypal, figurative and abstract qualities.
Joel’s works are commissioned and exhibited widely in solo and group exhibitions, have won awards, and are held in private collections in Australia.
Joel was born in Adelaide, Australia and lives and works in Central Victoria on Jaara Country.