Boneman by Austin Emery, Wood, Found Materials, Unique, 63 cm high, 30 cm wide, 30 cm deep

Boneman by Austin Emery is a haunting and thought provoking sculpture that blends history, symbolism, and raw materiality. Standing 63 cm high, this unique work portrays a human form assembled from bones discovered along the banks of the River Thames. By using fragments shaped and worn by time, Emery creates a figure that feels both ancient and contemporary, fragile yet enduring.

The sculpture takes on the presence of a guardian or relic, its body constructed from skeletal pieces that once formed part of the natural world. Each bone carries its own story, a trace of life lived and lost, yet here they unite to form a new narrative. The rough textures contrast with the careful composition, highlighting the tension between decay and reconstruction.

The figure’s stance suggests resilience, as though rising from the river’s depths to bear witness. At the same time, the material choice invites reflection on mortality, memory, and the passage of time. Viewers may find themselves contemplating the cycle of life and death, and how nature reclaims and repurposes all things.

As a unique piece, Boneman embodies Emery’s fascination with working directly with reclaimed and found objects. By transforming remnants into sculpture, he bridges the gap between human history and the natural environment. The result is a work that is as much about presence as it is about absence, inviting deep engagement and personal interpretation.