Circular Stone Seat by Teucer Wilson

Woodkirk stone (York sandstone)

The inscription is taken from a Chinese proverb and reads: ‘For a tree to bear fruit and the seed within that fruit, it must first lose its flowers’.

“The imagery and symbolism in this work relate to cyclical processes of loss and renewal, and reflect upon our relationship with and our dependence on nature. The snake devouring its own tail (ouroboros), depicted in the beading, is a symbol of eternity. The Green Man is widely understood to symbolise rebirth, as well as referring to our partnership with nature. The text relates to these natural cycles, but on another level I feel it resonates with human mortality. It is suggestive of our struggle with the ego, and our endeavour to balance the spiritual and the mundane aspects of life.”