Janus by Joseph Hillier, Steel, Unique, 26cm high, 43cm wide, 24cm deep, sculpture

Janus by Joseph Hillier is a unique steel sculpture measuring 26 cm high, 43 cm wide, and 24 cm deep. The piece presents a human face moulded onto a flat slab. Thin layers of steel are stacked to build the features, creating an uneven and abstracted form. From the front, the face remains recognisable, but the layered technique gives it depth and movement.

The forehead stops abruptly at a flat top, emphasizing the layered construction. Each plate of steel catches light differently, casting shadows that enhance the face’s contours. This uneven surface suggests both fragility and strength, as if the face emerges gradually from the slab.

Hillier balances abstraction with human familiarity. The eyes, nose, and mouth are clear yet stylized. The piece encourages close inspection, revealing subtle shifts in form and texture. The flat steel slab contrasts with the curved, layered face, anchoring it while also emphasizing its dimensionality.

Through Janus, Hillier explores identity, perception, and the construction of form. The sculpture feels simultaneously solid and fragmented, familiar yet reimagined. The layering technique gives it a sense of motion frozen in steel, as if the face is emerging, evolving, or shifting in time.