South Wind, st James's Park, London. 1929

Eric Gill made this stone carving, South Wind, st James's Park, London, sometime in the first half of the 20th century, and like a lot of stone carving, it’s about reduction, not addition. Which is a bit like life isn't it? We're always carving away at the things we don't need. The blocky figure reclines above a doorway, propped up on one arm, face nestled in her hands. The stone is grey, weathered, showing the marks of time. If you look closely at her body, you can see the cuts and chisels that gave her form. But it’s more than just form – it’s about the idea of this figure, a kind of spirit of place, almost. She’s so solid, so present, yet her eyes are closed. This reminds me of the work of someone like Gaston Lachaise, who also played with ideas of the monumental and the intimate. Art isn't about answers, it's about the ongoing conversation.