Sculptor's miniature creations set to be exhibited

“I DO not want them to be perfect because that isn’t what life’s about”, Nic Joly said speaking of his miniature statuettes.

Creating tiny art with big messages has become Mr Joly’s speciality as he has hand-crafted countless figures which stand little over an inch in height without the aid of a magnifying glass.

In free-handing the sculptures, he believes he gets a closer representation of life.

He said: "I am not a model maker. They are as perfect as I can get them with the naked eye. I like the imperfections".

Now these detailed and powerful sculptures will be featured in a two week exhibition at Castle Fine Art in Nile Street, Brighton.

Nic Joly in his studio.

Sculpture started as a hobby for Mr Joly as he crafted miniature characters out of clay, paper and wire to hide around his home for his children to find.

He said: "I have always made things, all my life and all using my hands. I started making these small things and hid them to show my children about focusing on the smaller things and getting them to look. They are still finding them now"

In time however this project escalated and the characters from his children’s playtime became little pieces of art which he intends to both mock and bring home truths about life.

One of the sculptures from the Light and Dark exhibition.

Mr Joly said the idea developed as he began to see them as "little pieces of theatre". He then came up with the idea of putting them behind glass to grab people's attention.

"I carve them, they are wire and plaster. Each figure can take up to three or four days to complete. I love the scale and people feel in control with something so small so I can do whatever I like."

The latest exhibition of his work is called Light and Dark and he said it is his most “emotionally charged” collection to date.

Thematically the collection explores the notion of times of turmoil being as valuable as the happy times. He said: "Without darkness there can be no light”.

He added: “This collection of work is the most personal collection I have ever put together, I have lifted the lid on the feelings, opinions, emotions, past experiences and thoughts that have been and are part of my life.

“From the battle with past addictions, to the joy and strength that my family give me, and all that lies between.

We are all made of light and dark. Why do we hide the dark side?”

Nic Joly.

Before becoming a professional artist Mr Joly worked many different jobs such as a theatre set creator and a furniture expert.

He added: “A phrase which always rings true for me is ‘you take away my demons and I lose my angels’ by Tennessee Williams. This phrase reminds me that we are all made up of emotions and experiences that cover light and dark, be they happy, sad, beautiful, ugly, brave, scared - the list could go on.

“The one thing that all these feelings have in common is that they all have an exact opposite: they are all in divine order.".

The centre peace of the exhibition is a framed sculpture featuring one figure stabbing another with a fountain pen – entitled The Pen is Mightier Than the Sword.

One of the sculptures from the Light and Dark exhibition.

He said:“In the age we live in, it has never been more important to remember and take responsibility for the fact that thinking, creating and writing have more influence on people and events than the use of force or violence.”

The Brighton leg of his exhibition will run until August 9.

George Hills, Castle Fine Art's gallery manager, said: “We’re excited to be presenting this brand new collection at the gallery.

“Joly’s sculptures are very different to anything else we have on display and we have no doubt these new pieces will attract a lot of interest.”

Nic Joly in his studio.