STUFF THE WORLD IS MADE OF

Selection of audience reactions to STUFF THE WORLD IS MADE OF & the work of Steve Dilworth

'I found that the film worked in the same way as a Dilworth "making" - over time, as much as the material demands, layered, folding back on itself: ultimately revealing and moving.'
Iain Sinclair, writer & film maker

‘What an extraordinary body of work. There is nothing else like it. Beautiful but challenging. Romantic but real. Natural but spiritual. A remarkable exploration of a deep interaction with nature in the most imaginative way. I love it.’ Chris Packham - BBC presenter, writer, naturalist and film maker

'What a treat. I watched it yesterday in my studio and was mesmerised. The grade/mix and structure polished to a sheen that Steve Dilworth would be proud of!'
Andrew Kotting, film maker (The Whalebone Box, This Filthy Earth, By Our Selves)

'An important,  thought provoking,  compelling, and beautiful film.  A comprehensive portrait and record of an important artist and his life’s work. I get a real sense of Steve’s profound devotion, his unique vision, the hard won mastery of his craft, how this enigmatic man has learned and borrowed from his stark environment to alter natural materials and create objects so simultaneously uplifting yet sometimes so "other" that in their moulding they appear to be from beyond nature,  belonging more in the spiritual world.'
Sam Maynard - Raw TV, executive vice president

'I loved the film and now understand much better Dilworth's world.' Xiaolu Guo - writer & film maker

'I watched the film - it's terrific - splendid in so many ways, its breath and pacing, music, angles of approach, sequence, and simply in all visual respects, I didn't take my eyes off the screen for a moment.'
Alan Riach - Professor of Scottish Literature Glasgow University

'This is a magic film. I have watched it twice over now and would be delighted to watch it many more times. It is a fascinating subject that requires time and attention to appreciate. Steve Dilworth's work and the creative process of sculptural thinking remains at the forefront even though he, himself, is such an engaging subject. It is a beautiful natural landscape but the shots are informative rather than "picturesque". There are very few documentaries that I have seen that have understood so well the complex intertwining of all the different nuances of practical, intellectual, imaginative and fortuitous impulses that go into the creative process. I have learnt so much from the pleasure of watching this.' Charles Cooper - producer and director, BBC Arts

'A beautifully made film, freshly educative, light of touch but serious of purpose, intimate, droll, insightful, with a star at its centre.' William Dickson - architect

‘Astonishingly beautiful and powerful sculptures. Don’t miss his Journeyman exhibition.’ Angela Palmer, sculptor

‘I watched the film which I found both thoughtful and uplifting in every way. I don’t know how used to being filmed Dilworth is but there was such a good rapport between him and those with whom he was conversing and it was very revealing about the resources on which he draws for his creative inspiration, both inner spirit and external nature. It felt totally natural, un-laboured and spontaneous and yet I can imagine how much work and thought has gone into the film.’ Anne Nicholson

'I absolutely loved the film' Jo Woolf - producer/director

'The film was not only compelling in conveying the nature of Dilworth's work, but also the raw nature of his surroundings in Harris, a stunningly creative landscape. The pieces themselves seemed to have a sensually tactile quality, which the film communicated so well. Genuinely edifying and entertaining to watch.' Jim King, writer

'A beautiful tribute to sculptor Steve Dilworth - everyone I knew at the screening loved it, telling me they had been talking about it all the next day. I'm not surprised, I've been doing the same.' Valentine Davis – artist

'Those who are lucky enough to have met Steve Dilworth know him to be a kind, warm, welcoming, generous man. It’s perhaps too easy to over-state the darker aspects of Dilworth’s sculptures – to make them seem more morbid than they actually are. We cannot forget that there is rare, unsurpassed beauty at play in his objects – a beauty that is at once grounded, familiar, and mythical. I want to say how exciting it was to watch Stuff the World is Made of and see how many people of different generations were brought in to respond to this work – how you see the voices of the young and old side by side. Their enthusiasm for his work, like the enthusiasm of everyone in this documentary, is apparent – and it’s not the kind of reaction you might get if the work was merely gruesome and morbid.' Victor Rees - writer

'It was beautifully shot and elegantly edited.' Philippa Walker - producer/director

'The film was wonderfully made and I really enjoyed seeing it. It left me with a great sense of the poetry, humility, honesty and craftsmanship of Dilworth's work. It was beautifully filmed and set within the context of the space and time of the amazing landscapes up there. I also really liked the parts of him at work and talking in his studio spaces, revealing his processes and thinking.' Will Fausett - sculptor

'The documentary is very good - so informative, artistic and the music was enhancing everything in the film.' Ayse Bircan

'I enjoyed the film immensely - I just loved the way the art was complimented by the scenic shots. He is such a fascinating artist and a real character. It was beautifully edited and it really made you want to see his work in person.'
Susie McKenna - director/writer Hackney Empire

‘I was introduced to Dilworth’s work via Robert Macfarlane’s book, The Old Ways. I’ve never seen art like Dilworth’s before that speaks to such a level of primal familiarity. I believe the quote was something like “art for tribes that don’t exist”, and my goodness, that’s precisely it. Such power. In my opinion he’s the finest sculptor of this modern age, and I just wanted to say thank you for bringing all of this wonderful work into the world.’ Scott Huegel

‘Last night was really great. It all felt wonderful, warm and real. I was completely gripped by the film and still resonating from it.’ Tania Tuft

‘I just wanted to say how wonderful your film was. Utterly inspirational and moving. Your narrative was so beautifully put together. Congratulations to all involved.’ Hilary Townley - actor/producer

‘I watched the film last night and was totally enraptured and fascinated by it. It delivered a lot of insight into Steve Dilworth, his creations, and philosophical and creative methodology. All the people in the film contributed to an understanding of his sculptures. The photography, especially of Harris and the surrounding land and seascape, was stunning. The very nature of Dilworth’s sculptures, their craftsmanship, materials and hidden inner components, means they truly have that rare quality, "presence". Some of them in particular appear to be alive, moving, changing in some subtle unseen way right before your eyes. But for me it always comes back to how they interact with the observer in a visceral way, by-passing the rational mind completely and tapping into some deep race, genetic memory of times unknown and places unseen, be they inner or outer. Profound.’ Tony Grice - photographer

‘That was absolutely wonderful- I had never seen Steve's work before, it is stunning and magical and full of so much elemental life. So much movement in it. What a wonderful, beautiful film and the music is fantastic.’ Shona Morris, actor/writer/director

‘What a beautiful film, one worthy of its unique subject. I was mesmerised from start to finish, many congratulations! I do hope the film gets more viewings – the BBC should be running it, for a start. It was great to meet Steve Dilworth, and I found his Q&A session informative and surprisingly funny.’ Jenny Naipul