— July 13, 2012
Henry Moore: Late Large Forms Exhibition
Moore, Moore, Moore ! …... Henry Moore: Late Large Forms at the Gagosian Gallery (ends August 18th 2012)
In case you thought that you had seen everything big, bold and British over the Jubilee weekend at the beginning of June … well not quite yet. Impressive by size, form and patina are Henry Moore’s Late Large Forms at the Gagosian Gallery. Henry Moore must surely have a patent on patinas ! In Two Piece Reclining Figure No. 2(1960) his creation in bronze of a behemoth form that looks as if it is rising from a primeval landscape with a rough hewn surface patina evoking ancient weathered Jurassic rocky outcrops and memories of Durdle Door. In Three Piece Sculpture: Vertebrae (1968-9), a smooth reflective liquid gold looking patina, seems as if it could have been secreted from waters in a cave upon the tumbled vertebrae to form rising golden stalagmites.
Looming against a background of white walls and in shifting light, these primitive, undulating forms take on changing moods and being removed from their settings against nature, they take on massive proportions. Wandering amongst them enables these creatures to be studied intimately, akin to studying animals in a zoo. As well as wanting to get up real close and touch these sculptures (please don’t – I am sure this is not be allowed !), what is fun is to play peek-a-boo in front of the holes and cut aways of their form and to study the framed human activity that carries on in the Gallery.
Britain Goes Barmy for Bunting …….
Only he or she with the most glacial of hearts could not have warmed to the outpouring of pathos that ceaselessly flowed from the British, The Commonwealth and kindred spirits over the Queen’s 60th Jubilee Celebrations at the beginning of June. Quicker than you could say “Goodness Grace-ious gyrating hula hoops !”, bunting was everywhere – anything from the cute staffie trotting down The Mall with his Union Flag bandana collar to this interesting take at a house in a street near me – great representation of the concept !
It is also 60 years ago this year that the British Pavilion at the Venice Biennale presented a major exhibition entitled ‘New Aspects of British Sculpture’. Visitors were met outside by Henry Moore’s towering bronze Double Standing Figure (1952), an etiolated, elongated representation of the human form. Inside the Pavilion, were sculpture and works on paper by other British sculptors, including Lynn Chadwick, a metal-meister who is known for his welded bronze and iron sculptures of elongated beings of abstracted human and animal form. Chadwick prints are instantly recognisable with their reclining and seated figures.
With a curtsey to all things Red, White and Blue (…. don’t shout at me about country of origin !) and a bow to a leader from the 1952 Venice Biennale, check out the lights and prints below.
All good wishes and keep your Kagool at the ready !
Johanna
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