IT is hard to believe that a large piece of stainless steel could double as art.
But that is exactly what renowned Highlands artist Bert Flugelman has achieved with many three-dimensional sculptures.
The 86-year-old from Burradoo has the conceptual eye for detail that can take a large piece of metal and have it reformed into an intriguing masterpiece featuring defined, flowing lines, a perpetual shine and a reflective capacity to draw in the images of everything around it.
The somewhat mesmerising qualities of Mr Flugelman’s work have led to him creating large scale three dimensional sculptures featured in many Australian cities including Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
One of his best known works takes pride of place in the sculpture garden at the National Gallery in Canberra.
But the people of the Southern Highlands can now experience the appeal of Mr Flugelman’s work with the unveiling of a new Flugelman sculpture in Bowral’s Corbett Plaza yesterday.
The prominent geometric structure that towers over all those who pass through the busy plaza is the result of a conversation over coffee between Mr Flugelman and friend, Kangaloon artist Max Miller.
Mr Flugelman said he and Mr Miller were sitting at one of the cafes in the plaza about 12 months ago at a time when the courtyard area was being re-paved.
“Max said he thought one of my sculptures would look good in the plaza and I told him I loved the idea,” Mr Flugelman said.
“Max later spoke to council about the idea and a few weeks later someone from council rang me to make further inquiries.
“I happily donated the design concept and model of a sculpture to Council with money for the manufacturing of the piece raised through Council, the community and a grant.
“The sculpture was fabricated at Mittagong by Phillip Ryan and his son Jake, who have worked on several of my other sculptures over the years.”
Mr Flugelman said he was excited to have one of his works showcased in a community that he has proudly called home for the past seven years.
It is the latest work in a sculpting career that has spanned almost 50 years.
Mr Flugelman said he started his career as a painter and attended the National Art School in East Sydney after he came out of the army following the war (WWII).
He began working on three-dimensional sculptures from about 1960 and that is where he found his niche.
“I liked to create simple geometric structures, often working with stainless steel because my concepts are best expressed in that matter,” he said.
“Stainless steel stays polished and shiny and has reflective qualities that are essential for my work. It draws on everything around it into the sculpture.”
And it is apparent that Mr Flugelman is equally drawn into his works.
“One project tends to lead to the next,” he said.
“I always have on hand small models of about 20 works which I would like to do on a larger scale.
“But my next project still remains to be seen.”