david dumbrell
ABOUT david
From a young age, I have had a fascination for all things mechanical: how they worked and how they moved. They always caught my eye and held my attention. Soon after retiring from my woodworking business, I noticed Doug Taylor’s kinetic sculpture “The Wind Swimmer”, displayed at Kitsilano Swimming Pool in Vancouver.
In my early research into this new interest, I came across automata. These intricate animated figures captivated me and I decided to pursue creating my own. Using gears, cams, levers and pulleys that I design myself, I try to capture the grace and fluidity of human movement. The concepts and execution of the pieces are my own, with the help of my wife Maryke who gives the pieces their personalities by painting and deciding upon the fabrics and colours. I also repurpose second-hand doll parts and doll clothing, giving them new life in unexpected ways.
Recently, I have branched out into metalwork, resulting in rolling ball sculptures and kinetic water fountains.
the acrobat
2017, 30" H x 17" W x 26" D, Mixed media
steampunk
2012, 29" H x 11" W x 19" D, Mixed media
oh canada
2019, 29" H x 11.5" W x 25" D, Mixed media