Conrad Hicks approaches sculpture as an explorer of human evolution, seeing in his creative process an echo of our earliest intuitions.  Each strike of the hammer becomes a conversation with deep time, and each undulation of the metal is a record of that exchange. His sculptures function simultaneously as tools and talismans, objects that carry both functional heritage and symbolic meaning, encoding the cultural and existential weight of creation itself.

The physical intensity of his process leaves visible traces—marks, rhythms, and organic surfaces that seem to be pulsing with primal vitality. Rejecting mechanized welding, he relies on time-tested methods of hand joining, believing that the labor and presence of the maker must be directly invested in the object. In this way, each work becomes a vessel for the body that created it, containing within itself a tangible trace of human effort and experience.

Implement invites viewers to experience the alchemy that transforms raw metal into objects that resonate with both ancient traditions and contemporary sensibilities. Hicks draws on the silent language of metal to remind us of the sacred bond between human hands and the world we form. This solo show is a culmination of Hicks’ lifelong exploration of beauty, form, and function.

Born in Cape Town in 1966 and trained at Cape Technikon, Conrad Hicks began his career in art restoration before ultimately finding his way to the forge—a place where material, history, and intuition converge. He established his workshop in 1991, immersing himself in the tools and techniques of ancient makers, whose ingenuity shaped the trajectory of human evolution. By forging many of his own tools, Hicks situates himself within this enduring lineage of artisans, engaging directly with the processes that once advanced entire civilizations. His forge at The Bijou, a restored Art Deco cinema in Cape Town, functions as both studio and living archive: a space where every hammer blow, every handmade implement, and every evolving idea forms part of an ongoing record of experimentation, craftsmanship, and creative inquiry.