John McDonald on King at Sculpture by the Sea

“Good intentions lost at sea”

By John McDonald

Sydney Morning Herald, Spectrum

November 14-15 Pages 18-19

Part quote

“………….. Two other strong works were Bjorn Godwin’s Sunken Cathedral- an ensemble of fibreglass stumps that pay homage to the ravaged fig trees in Hyde Park – and Stephen King’s The Eight – a totemic carving of eight Amazonian rowers holding the frame of a boat above their heads. Both these pieces have a commanding presence and engage us on more than one level……..

King’s wooden figures combine the popular culture of sport with echoes of the caryatids that held up the roofs of ancient temples. He demonstrates, convincingly, that there is still something new to be discovered in the venerable art of wood carving. In this work King shows himself to be a poet with a chainsaw.

Installed in a more permanent location, the large, ungainly base of The Eight would be discreetly buried, but this sort of detail seems to have been ignored by everyone this year…………..”