Sculptures depict artist’s own spiritual journey

A collection of new and existing work by the Newark-based artist, Bill Ming, is launched tomorrow in Nottingham. Out Of Da Wood is a celebration of Bill’s work as a storyteller and features nine pieces, mainly large figurative sculptures.

From growing up in Bermuda to settling in the UK during the 1970s, his personal tales are told through his work and reflect audiences’ spiritual and emotional journeys.

It is Bill’s first exhibition at New Art Exchange in Gregory Boulevard. It runs from Saturday to September 8.

He is also doing some workshops at the contemporary gallery.

The exhibition draws inspiration from key moments in Bill’s life, touching on segregation, the story of his emigration to England, and his reception once he arrived.

It also tells much about the environment, culture, politics and history of Bermuda.

Bill, who came to Nottinghamshire in 1971, said he hoped visitors to the exhibition would recognise and relate to the personal experiences he describes.

He said: “It is my first exhibition at New Art Exchange and it takes up the entire main gallery. I am excited about it.

“There are nine pieces in total and most of them are installations containing figurines.

“One of the pieces is 7ft by 7ft and shows a shack with a guy playing guitar.

“The largest piece is my beach scene showing two boys holding a piece of rope. One is sitting in a tin tub and the scene is just like being on a desert island.”

Another is a sculpture of a boy sitting at an old school desk.

Bill said that like many African artists he was a wood carver and storyteller, sharing his visions and messages with a multi-cultural village that linked instinct with a contemporary perspective through his education and experience.

“I decided to call the exhibition Out Of Da Wood because the pieces are all sculpted out of wood and thought this was more important to be mentioned in the title,” he said.

“While growing up in Bermuda there was cedar wood available all the time for carving items.”

Bill said some of the pieces were started about five years ago but he had taken his time as he wanted to get the figures just right. All the work is for sale, with prices starting at £2,000.

The exhibition is curated by Lucy Atkinson. She said Out Of Da Wood highlighted Bill’s use of wood and other materials to create cultural collages that reflected spiritual and emotional journeys.

She said: “Bill Ming is a storyteller in every sense of the word. Bill’s sculptures are in a constant state of flux, transient pieces that are constantly being added to.

“Eventually they will be broken down and given a new life in a different story.”

Bill studied at Mansfield College of Art from 1975-76 and gained a degree in sculpture and creative writing from Maidstone College of Art in 1979.

He has taught at several art colleges and was an active participant in the Arts Education for a Multi-cultural Society project. He has also acted as an adviser and exhibition selector.

He was the Henry Moore Sculpture Fellow at John Moores University in Liverpool 1992-93. In November 2006 the Arts Council of Bermuda honoured Bill with a Lifetime Achievement Award.