Sculptor and artist Dion Horstmans has “a million gazillion things going on right now,” he laughs. “Eight commissions on the boil, 20 people waiting, an exhibition just opened at Koskela, a group show coming up soon followed by another solo show in Bega. Life’s not exactly dull at the moment.” Dion’s graphically fantastic wall sculptures are objects of much desire these days. And to evolve his work in a truly stimulating environment he recently moved his atelier to Marrickville. We did a studio visit with Dion, to find out how things are progressing in this hotbed of creativity.

Dion’s new studio is an ex-car manufacturing warehouse on Carrington Road, Marrickville.

“My landlord is the most passionate, fantastic guy, totally into having really creative people in his space. My neighbour is a Chinese dude who sews embroidery, across the road is a set builder, there are artists ateliers, potters, and then there are mechanics and more hard core stuff. Everyone’s doing their own thing, it’s an incredibly exhilarating environment. The building is brick and iron, lots of windows and the ceilings are almost 5 metres-high, so there’s this incredible natural light.”

“This has had a big impact on my work, since I trace the outlines of my sculptures literally from the shadows cast in my studio. Often from the windows, if not, then through spotlights, torches, even a tin can with a hole cut in and a light shining through it. Anything. I do it freehand, no computer, no square level, not even a ruler. That may seem a bit strange, given the rigorous nature of my sculptures which many people assume are computer-generated. But in fact I build them up, cell by cell, much as organic forms are evolved in nature.”

“Space was primordial in my decision to move here: I have 220 square-metres, including a loading dock. I rocked into a blank canvas, painted it all white and built an internal space – a cell – inside the space. This contains the kitchen, dining area and stuff. It’s damn cool. I rarely sleep here, I drive in six days a week from Bondi. I have a strict work routine. I get up at 5am, leave home at 5.30, get here by 6am. Being an industrial zone, I can make noise 24 hours a day, it’s a buzz. I have five massive, 8 metres-long benches that I can configure to create different surfaces according to what I’m creating. Right now, I’m working on five different pieces spread out around the place. I love having many things on the go at once, it creates a great energy.”

“When I’m at work, I’m obsessed by what I’m creating. At the moment I’m making small works in solid, cold folded steel. They’re not folded with machines, but by brute force, which is fun. They appear seamless, since I score them down the back before twisting them into these kinda of contorted parallelograms. Mostly, they’re matte black, but sometimes I like to insert a bold, graphic colour. I kind of love yellow, its suggestion of speed and light. Speed of light, that fascinates me, and really informs the dynamism of my work.”

Some of my favourite local hangouts, starting with Pho:

Yen for Vet for Pho bo (beef) – 296 Illawarra Road

Pho Hai Duong for Pho ga (chicken)  – 308 Illawarra Road

Quyen if you’re with a vegan – 310 Illawarra Road

Cafés:

Double Roasters – they’re my sponsors, a converted warehouse, great ambiance – I love these guys!

Old Garage Espresso – 47 Carrington Road

Green Space:

Wicks Park – A sweet little park on the corner of Sydenham and Victoria Roads. Beautiful in Autumn when the leaves turn. This is where I run my blue staffy, Bucky, named after Buckminster Fuller.

Dion’s show runs till June 1st at Koskela, Rosebery.

Photography by Aimee Crouch.