The creative mind behind the prawn-like aliens in District 9 is debuting a bronze sculpture exhibit of eight emotive sculptures inspired by people he met travelling through 45 countries.
“Travel is not about a destination but the people along the way,” James Stewart said about his exhibit, Pangea, which will be displayed at a remodelled building at 5 West Pender St.
Not enjoying the average tourist beach experience, Stewart prefers to go off the beaten track. This is where he finds the intensity of travel that is so vivid in his work.
“I don’t want to get on a bus, I want to be the bus.”
Stewart, who has designed creatures for such films as District 9 and the Chronicles of Narnia, attended Vancouver Film School.
Despite the large overseas projects that he has worked on, he said he is happiest sculpting from Vancouver, a place he calls home.
His sculptures convey a level of intimacy as Stewart emphasizes personal flaws such as deep-set eyes and weathered skin to convey age, wisdom or power.
He self-studied anatomy to make the details in his work realistic, part of the reason for his success in film.
“The details give life,” said Stewart, whose work has often been described as “voyeuristic”.
He has a number of upcoming ventures, one of which involves another Vancouver film with possible creatures reminiscent of Men In Black.
Pangea officially opens this Wednesday. It runs Wednesday to Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. until Oct. 2.
Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver
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