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Indepth Arts News:
"Size Immaterial: handheld sculpture of the 1990's"
1999-12-07 until 0000-00-00
British Museum
London, ,
UK United Kingdom
Turning the spotlight on just one kind of
art to be found at the Museum, size
immaterial displays contemporary
handheld sculpture. Works by leading
British sculptors is displayed - Bill
Woodrow, Ian Hamilton Finlay,
Dhruva Mistry to name just a few -
several American artists are
contributing to the show also including
Richard Tuttle. Many beautiful or
provocative pieces are currently being
made in Eastern Europe where medallic
sculpture was used as an expression of
protest under Soviet rule, as well as
being sanctioned for official purposes.
There are portraits, for example, of
modern heroes such as the film
directors, Derek Jarman or Andzrej
Wajda. Other pieces have strong social
and political messages, focussing on
issues like nuclear testing in the South
Pacific, the collapse of Communism or
tolerance of gender difference. Both
portraiture and politics are the
traditional preoccupations of the medal.
Other pieces however have little or
nothing to do with medals in either form
or function. Some continue to explore
the possibilities of cast bronze - works
of art rather than acts of
commemoration or propaganda.
Others are constructed from plastic
glass, sand, wood or ceramic. The
visual languages employed might be
figurative, abstract or even, in the work
of the young Dutch sculptor Mirjam
Mieras, conceptual.
While the exhibition is running there will
be regular opportunities to handle
pieces in the collection, behind the
scenes. For further information please
e-mail lsyson@british-museum.ac.uk
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