Words by Jessica Paton

This June, Vessel Art Gallery in Thames presents Bowled Over, a new exhibition by local artist Stuart Hislop celebrating a remarkable milestone: one year of creating hand-carved stone bowls.

Stuart’s journey into stone carving began through lapidary work, creating a handful of smaller pieces before discovering a much larger world of possibilities. While helping artist Raika at the Ngākau Symposium, he was inspired by the extraordinary stone carving taking place around him and the creativity of fellow artists working with stone.

The turning point came when fellow carver Tai visited after the symposium and taught Stuart how to carve his first bowl.

“Tai taught me how to make a bowl and I haven’t looked back,” Stuart says.

Since then, carving has become both a creative challenge and a way of seeing potential in the natural materials around him. An avid rock collector, Stuart sources stone from a wide range of locations, often drawn to pieces that reveal unexpected characteristics once work begins.

“I’m always collecting rocks, so I source my stone from everywhere, but I love the mystery of river stones. They can be so different on the inside from what is seen on the outside. I have also loved playing around with the tumbled granite from Fantail Bay.”

Bowled Over marks a year of learning, experimentation and steady development in the craft. The exhibition showcases a collection of works that explore the relationship between stone, form and negative space, pushing beyond the traditional concept of the bowl as a purely functional object

Each piece responds to the unique qualities of the stone itself, with Stuart carving to reveal shapes, textures and forms hidden within. The result is a striking body of work that celebrates both the material and the process of discovery.

The exhibition opens on Friday 19 June at Vessel Art Gallery, 752 Pollen Street, Thames, with drinks and nibbles from 5pm. Running until 17 July, Bowled Over offers visitors the chance to experience an artist’s first year of exploration, growth and fascination with the art of stone carving.