An unashamed modernist, Somerville’s art has been compared to the expressionist style of Rodin, Degas and Daumier but it possesses it’s own visceral potency which is much more down to Earth — art honed from his lived experience of working the land and working directly with animals, of army reserve training, of representative sports.

Alan’s uncompromising dedication to form is self-evident and gives each piece its dynamism and poignancy. “Without strong underlying form, a piece may be anatomically correct with every surface detail remembered, but it will lack sprit and it will fail to convey its message to the viewer, whether that message is solemn, proud, powerful, vulnerable or anything else.”

He is as comfortable drawing and painting as he is sculpting. However it is Somerville’s major public works in bronze that have established him as an internationally acclaimed master artist. These include the two ANZAC Diggers that guard the gates of ANZAC Bridge in Pyrmont, Sydney, The Challenge (Bull) at World Square, Sir Henry Parkes at the Oxford Street entrance of Centennial Park, Sydney, Sir Tristram at Cambridge Stud, NZ, Saint Christopher at xx in Canberra, Sir Rodin Cutler in Manly, the Brothers in Arms at Coogee Beach, and Sir James Martin in Marin Place.

Alan has contributed many more private commissions from dynamic dancers to iconic public figures. His love of art began in preschool. It later included tutoring in photographic realism with his Central Otago neighbour Graeme Sydney. He is a self-taught sculptor relying on daily drawing, trial and error to develop his technique. Alan works quickly. Smaller figures are created using, clay, hollowed out wax or plastiline. He has over 20 years as an art tutor at the Sydney Royal Art Society, Sydney Sculpture School, Northbridge School of Visual Arts and private workshops.

Photo Credit: Sarhn McArthur