 |
| Helaine Blumenfeld battling with the stone at Pietrasanta |
The global economy may be poised on a knife edge, but it's been another great year for British sculpture.
I've just received news from London sculpture dealer Robert Bowman that one of his most successful and popular artists, the internationally acclaimed Helaine Blumenfeld (Hon. OBE), has won the prestigious commission to produce a large-scale outdoor work for the new 'Lancasters' apartment development in Hyde Park. The 3m high work, which Helaine has already begun roughing out in Carrara marble at Studio Sem in Pietrasanta, Tuscany (left), is entitled Tempesta and will be installed in front of the Grade II listed facade of the Lancasters in Spring 2012. We extend our congratulations to Helaine and wish her well for the final stages of the work.
 |
| Nick Turvey's work on exhibition at The Print Room |
It was a huge pleasure recently to see a group of works by British artist Nick Turvey displayed in The Print Room's new space in Notting Hill. This enabled Nick, who recently completed an RBS marble-carving Bursary in Pietrasanta, to show a number of related pieces in different materials, including household jelly (yes, the edible kind), and some of his recently completed works in marble. Nick and I held a public Q&A at the gallery to coincide with the show, which provided an enjoyable opportunity to talk about his recent time in Tuscany and to explore some of the ideas that underpin his practice. The works looked marvellous in the beautifully-lit upstairs space at the Print Room.
 |
| Piers Secunda's Taliban Bullet Holes panels at Aubin Gallery |
British artist Piers Secunda has received rave reviews for his recent Afghan Bullet Holes and Crude Oil Silkscreen exhibition (left) at the Aubin Gallery in London's Redchurch Street, with art book publishers Phaidon describing the work as "the most directly inspired pieces of art we've seen on the subject of the Afghan conflict." Piers travelled to Afghanistan to make casts of bullet holes left in walls and other surfaces after gun battles in Kabul in order to "make a record of the physical manifestations of the Taliban's activities." The result was an extraordinary series of cast panels that despite their documentary genesis have a strange kind of neoclassical elegance. It's refreshing to see artists tackling the topic of war, particularly at a time when so much contemporary art seems to be conspiring with the shiny surfaces of consumerism. You can see Piers talking about the Afghan Bullet Hole project here.
 |
| Colin Figue, recent work (a proposal) |
Portugal-based British sculptor Colin Figue writes to tell me of his recent visit to the Mayan archaeological sites in Belize. Unsurprisingly, Colin has returned inspired and I know what he means. Having myself climbed up and around the Mayan sites in the Yucatan I know why the art and architecture of the region exerted such an impact on Henry Moore and a host of other European artists, and continues to do so. Colin has sent me a picture of one of his recent works whose simple abstract elements suggest an amplified rephrasing of the bowl lying in the lap of the great Chac Mool at Chichen Itza. One of Colin's outdoor works is destined for a park in Belmopan, capital of Belize. For more information about his work, contact him through his web link here.
 | |
| Mark Richards, Gordon Highlanders commemorative statue, Aberdeen |
 |
| HRH Prince Charles congratulates Mark Richards on his Gordon Highlanders commemorative statue. |
Three rousing Caledonian cheers for acclaimed British sculptor Mark Richards who has just successfully completed an ambitious public sculpture commissioned in 2010 by Aberdeen City Council to commemorate The Gordon Highlanders (left), the renowned regiment of the North-East of Scotland (established in 1794 and amalgamated into The Scottish Regiment in 1994). Mark won the commission following a nationwide competition and has produced a work of dignity and power that brilliantly combines the historical Highlanders and their contemporary counterparts in a compactly integrated group. One rarely gets a chance to
track the demanding technical challenges involved in creating a large-scale work of such formal complexity, but happily Mark recorded every stage of the group's conception and creation. You can view it on his website here and read the Daily Telegraph's account of Prince Charles's unveiling here. Bravo, Mark.
I am about to write the catalogue introduction for a joint exhibition of the work of British sculptors Charlotte Mayer and Almuth Tebbenhoff which will be at Pangolin's London Gallery in March. Charlotte's and Almuth's sculptural projects share many natural affinities and their work will look wonderful together. Watch this space for more details.
 |
| Helios by Simon Allen |
The Sculpture Agency has long been champion of West Country sculptor Simon Allen, five of whose works have just been sold to The World Gold Council, including the recent large circular work entitled Helios (left) and four smaller works from a new series of gold squares entitled Metamorphosis 1-4. These will be going to the USA, to be hung in the WGC's new Washington Offices. Simon has also been invited to the Gold Council's London offices to lecture about his work and his experience of using gold leaf in his art.
There is still a chance to acquire the last two remaining works from a group of 8 small wall sculptures by Simon, also entitled Metamorphosis., which can be seen here, while a new group of small works entitled Fluid Forms can also be viewed on Simon's website here.
A quick word about an open call for entries for a new photographic and video project — Beyond Memories — recently launched by Celeste Network. More details here.
Finally, Seasons Greetings and Happy Holidays from everyone at the Sculpture Agency (you know — the Web Designers, the IT Manager, the Finance Director, the Marketing Department, the typing pool, the office cleaners, the estate manager, the janitor, and the foundry staff). We wish you all a prosperous and successful 2012.
