SPIRIT OF THE ANCESTORS
THE SCULPTURE AND PHOTOGRAPHY
OF
SIMANT BOSTOCK
Simant Bostock was born in Oxford in
1949. Much of his childhood was spent alone, so he resorted to
drawing and painting as his most effective means of expression.
Listening to his Grandmother's stories and exploring the woods and
countryside near his home, nurtured both a strong sense of the past
and the magic of nature, which stimulated his imagination. He
remembers visiting with his parents two places that held an endless
fascination for him and were to provide a continual source of
inspiration. One was Pitt Rivers Museum of anthropology in Oxford (a
collection of artefacts and sacred relics from all over the world,
unparalleled in its diversity.) Shrunken-heads, mummies,
voodoo-dolls, totem-polls, musical instruments, boats, sculls,
costumes and feathers, crammed into a labyrinth of display cases. The
atmosphere filled with the spirits of numerous tribal peoples and
their different cultures. The other was the Uffington White Horse, a
3000 year old giant figure of a horse carved into the chalk of the
Berkshire Downs, where for the first time, he became aware of the
spirit of our ancient ancestors and the power of their sacred
sites.
See below for
larger version of the above images.After leaving school at 15 and
unable to find satisfying work, he travelled throughout Europe and
the Middle East (and later to India and Nepal) returning to England
to study fine art and art history at university and to work with
autistic children. Eventually qualifying as an art therapist, he
moved to the West Country to work in psychiatry for 10 years before
moving to Glastonbury, inspired by its mystical landscape and
legends, to develop his own work as an artist, sculptor and
photographer.
Inspired by our Celtic and pre
Celtic heritage and especially the ancient sacred monuments of our
Neolithic and Bronze Age ancestors, he has amassed an extensive photo
library , of megalithic sites of the British Isles, Ireland and
Brittany. His work has featured in many books on ancient
sites.
As an artist and sculptor, he runs
Spirit of the Ancestors, a small studio producing replicas of
Prehistoric Goddesses, Celtic Gods, power animals, Celtic crosses,
fairies and nature spirits, as well as larger works of figurative art
and sculpture which have been exhibited in the U.K. and U.S.A. He
likes the idea of producing limited edition artworks which are
affordable to the average person. Samapatti began working in Simant's
studio following a long career as an artist and illustrator.
Simant is currently working on
themes inspired by the Tuatha de Dannan of Irish mythology and the
Fairy Faith in Celtic countries. His interest in art has always been
in its magical power as a vehicle of spiritual wisdom, transformation
and healing. As a maker of images, his desire is to honour the spirit
and beauty of our ancient heritage, drawing nourishment and guidance
from its wisdom and power. The ancient images that he makes and the
original artworks they inspire, can help provide psychological
integration and healing and nourish a spiritual awareness that gives
life meaning.
NEOLITHIC
SHAMAN
From an original sculpture based on
information gathered from archaeology, legend and contemporary tribal
cultures.
CELTIC WILD BOAR
Symbolising ferocity and courage,
the wild boar was often used as a totem for warriors-it's magic
provided spiritual protection and the courage to journey into the
darkness and the unknown.
PHOTOGRAPH OF CONTEMPORARY
RECONSTRUCTION OF A CELTIC ROUND HOUSE.
Co. Clare, Eire.
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Celtic
Pembrokeshire
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