British multi-media artist Rowan Mersh is attracted to the beauty of the natural world, using thousands of seashells to create mesmerizing contemporary sculptures. He explores form by intuitively applying the inherent qualities of materials. His experimental approach has him transforming ordinary objects into high art, with the results revealing close attention to shape, color, and geometry. From textile sculpture to kinetic and interactive installation, Mersh’s pieces are inventive and multipurpose, bridging the realms of art, design and fashion.

His process is labour-intensive, involving the hand-assembly of many thousands of individual components, selected for their specific sculptural qualities when used en masse and used in organic, extensive ways. He uses responsibly-sourced materials, ranging from windowpane oyster shell discs, and dentalium shell, with all its natural variation and idiosyncrasy, through to sticks manufactured in wood with a coating of marble dust.

Whether it's a wall hanging or a freestanding sculpture, each piece can take between two to six months to complete. Mersh scours the shore for everything from sea urchin spines to a wide variety of shells to build out his vision. Inspired by the diversity of what he sources, Mersh is also intrigued by the cultural significance of shells. Often, the traditions and symbolism associated with seashells informs the work he creates, forming the underlying narrative.

In celebrating and embracing these unconventional materials, Mersh pulls out their inherent beauty. His finished sculptures invite viewers to enjoy the work as a whole, while also luring them closer to explore the fascinating details of each single shell. Though apparently uniform, the delicate shells show their unique character to attentive eyes willing to take in their subtle differences. For Mersh, this individuality is part of the intrigue. He follows the direction of every shell, with the final sculpture taking cues from the shape of each component.