In December I posted about three sculptures, in particular the Wilde one by Eduardo Paolozzi … but didn't mention the reason why it looked like it does …
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| Paolozzi's sculpture |
Paolozzi creatively designed the sculpture as three segments referring to dominant times in Wilde's life …
… the distress of his life as he suffered …
… the loss of respect, symbolised by his fallen head being sculpted as such …
… the segmentation representing his troubled life and his ultimate death …
The art work has been condemned by many … as it would be near impossible for a non-specialised viewer to understand it.
However it remains ... for our interpretation – such as it is … but many would prefer a statue that welcomes us to come and have a talk with the great conversationalist and playwright …
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| Here we have his triptych tapestry - in the ICA |
Paolozzi was a Scottish artist, known for his sculptures and graphic works … while being widely considered to be one of the pioneers of pop art.
Next I came across Paolozzi's triptych tapestry 'A perspective on innovation' (1981) commissioned by the Institute of Chartered Accountants to hang in their Great Hall – it has now been moved to another part of the building.
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| One of the mosaic panels that was moved during the construction of the Elizabeth line |
The triptych is easier to understand … and I find it really interesting … we can see his interest in post-war developments in science and technology ... also applied here in the mosaics ...
… then there are the mosaics at Tottenham Court Road tube station … again reflecting his interpretation of the local area and his wider interest in mechanisation, urbanisation, popular culture and everyday life.
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| Skilled workmen carefully removing part of a panel before restoration |
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| Paolozzi's Pop art collage |
Pop! goes the end of this two-part series – brief … but Pop is to the point – Paolozzi was the first to display the word “pop” on his collage in 1952.
Institute of Chartered Accountants - Paolozzi's tapestry ...
Restoration works at Tottenham Road Underground station ...
First post on Wilde's sculpture ...
Hilary Melton-Butcher
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32 comments:
Hari OM
The irony being that Paolozzi's POP was to indicate the explosion of the gun from which it bubbles and nothing to do with contemporaneousness, which is generally what pop art is considered for. Thus not popularity but POP! = shock/surprise. That said, a lot of pop art does exactly that... Accessibility of art is rather a pointless debate, for there is the ancient adage of 'eye of the beholder'. There are those who gain nothing by perusal of Constable's country scenes, or are aghast at the wildness of Picasso. We see what we see and it either draws or repels us. From there, we expand our connection (or not) with a piece. Like poetry, knowing what the poet meant versus what we draw from the lines ourselves can be two vastly different things... Aint' art wonderful?!! YAM xx
Interesting definition of pop art by the above commenter. I thought pop was short for popular, as in opposite of traditional. So I'm glad to learn this today. I must say I'd have been clueless about the Wilde sculpture if you hadn't explained it. But I still don't like it much at all.
Where was Paolozzi's image seen? In 1952, I would have thought that suggestions of public hair and naked breasts on a "plaything" would have been offensive. And pointing a gun at her head was even more offensive.
Art can be challenging. Many artists especially like to provoke and start a conversation.
I think that YAM has covered this quite well. Perhaps there was a time, when art was always founded on realism, that it was pretty much guaranteed a universally appreciative audience, but in the 21st Century that is certainly not the case. In many ways the real value of art is that it stimulates discussion. Long may it be so! Have a great day, Hilary - David
@ Yam - thanks for your very thoughtful comment - I'd love to understand more about art and art history ... but I continue to learn (tiny steps at a time!) ... I'm going to see some more controversial artistic films tomorrow, then the exhibition on Sunday. I used to only like watercolours ... I think/know I've moved on from that time. Yes - 'Aint' art wonderful' ... so well said ...
@ Karen - there's an explanation of pop in the understanding of Paolozzi's collage in Wikipedia ... and where we move forward as each decade takes us in the future - but we can look back. I'd wanted to explain the Wilde sculpture once I'd found out the explanation and eventually got here. It is not universally liked - understandably I guess ... too true to his unfortunate life.
@ Hels - there's an explanation in Wikipedia ...
@ Liz - yes art can be challenging ... always has been for me - but I'm learning slowly ...
@ David - Yam is very perceptive with her thoughtful comments and thankfully sticks to ideas expressed in the post, for which I'm grateful. You mention the 21st century ... I seem to be learning more about the 20th century art - Hockney et al - and other artists I see I've written about. In fact I'll write another post along these lines ... as you say long may it be so.
Great to see you all - thanks for the appreciative comments ... Spring is well on its way here - cheers Hilary
I'm glad you explained the head. I see it now though as you say, I like more welcoming statues!
When art is 'explained' it becomes more accessible if not personally acceptable.
Not so keen on the sculpture, but I do like the tapestry and mosaics.
POP goes my eyes and brain as I contemplate your post and the artist. Nifty works. Thanks for the extended explanation of the statue - totally makes sense, and obviously the artist put a lot of thought into his Wilde tribute.
@ Jacqui - yes ... once I'd found the explanation I knew I had to add to my original post (oh just realised I didn't link that across) - glad you like new statues ... more anon ...
@ Janice - good to see you - hope all is going well. Thanks - I know ... I must look deeper before I post in future ... I'm seeing another series of films tomorrow, which will need some explaining ...
@ Anabel - you and many others aren't that keen on this particular sculpture ... and yes I too like the tapestry and mosaics ... which should I get to London again - I'll look them out.
@ Joanne - Pop went my brain too ... I wanted to include 'POP goes the Weasel' ... but refrained as I was concentrating on Paolozzi's artistic development. Paolozzi was definitely a thinking artist ... thanks for enlightening that.
Cheers to the four of you ... I'm learning and will try and make sure I elaborate a bit more in the future - take care - Hilary
Now the head makes sense! I still don't find it particularly appealing though! However I do like the mosaic . Nice to end with a pop!
Hi, Hilary - I greatly appreciate your explanation of the sculpture heads. I can now view the sculpture more openly and with greater understanding,...and compassion. I continue to learn a great deal from your blog!
Much information I wasn't familiar with, Hils. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for interesting me to a new artist. Certainly a lot going on in the tapestry and mosaics and I like the social commentary. The sculpture is interesting but can see how it would be divisive.
@ Keith - thank you ... once I'd found the explanation I knew I had to write it up. I think many of us aren't that keen on the head .. but the mosaic is interesting. Thanks re the pop!
@ Donna - it definitely makes more sense now ... but I enjoy writing these things up ...
@ Sandra - thanks ... so much information out there ...
@ Nick - great to see you here - thanks for your pertinent comment - the sculpture could lead us to read more of Wilde's works ..
Thanks to the four of you - cheers Hilary
I love seeing things through an artist's perspective! Although, with Wilde, I'll try to remember him more for his words, I think.
I'm going to have to do some reading up on Wilde. Currently, reading about Millard Fillmore (the 13th President) and finding it interesting.
YOU have the best day ever.
Cheers,
Interesting post but art to me has to be something 'real'. Intimate Confessions and Keep 'em Flying is more to my taste.
Did you see my comment on your bookshop post, I am reading the book I mentioned again and loving it all over once more and it is well over 100 years old now. Keep safe and stay well, cheers Diane
@ Elizabeth - you offer us so much information on writing and publishing books; while yes I'm sure many remember Wilde for his words - this isn't the most enlightening of sculptures - but does succinctly explain his life, without words.
@ Sandra - his writings are well worth reading ... particularly his plays - 'The Importance of Being Earnest' and more. Millard Fillmore must be really interesting - I see he was quite forward thinking ... so enjoy ...
@ Diane - yes art is in the eye of the beholder ... but living down here near the Bloomsbury Group's Sussex homes and having the Towner Gallery on my doorstep gives me a chance to 'open my eyes' - which I'm attempting to do. Another post or 2 will appear shortly - I hope.
I have now answered your previous comment - really interesting - thank you ...
Cheers to you three - we are having the most beautiful weather at the moment - chilly, but full of sun! Hilary
Art can really give insight into the artist's mental state of being.
I find a lot of sculptures rather unsettling. I'm not a fan of collages at all though I can appreciate the creativity and labor that has created them.
The Oscar Wilde sculpture is fascinating, yet a little unsettling. I enjoyed the other works as well. Clever to use the word "pop" in a piece of pop art. ☺
@ Sherry - yes it can ... I'm learning to appreciate different styles as my blogging experience expands ...
@ Susan - some sculptures are certainly challenging to see where the inspiration has come from, or how they work for that subject - I prefer reality. Again collages I find challenging, though can, as you point out, appreciate the creativity and labour that's gone into the work.
@ Debbie - the Wilde sculpture does express his life as lived - so I admire the thought process to create it ... just glad I understand it. Thanks re the rest of the post - I was particularly interested to learn that Paolozzi is considered to be the first standard bearer of 'Pop Art' and the first to display the word "pop".
Thanks so much for the comments - cheers Hilary
Do the Wilde sculptures have some sort of plaque with information? I feel like that could make the meaning more accessible. At the same time, art is meant to be interpreted. Interesting guy, Paolozzi!
Hi Shannon - good to see you here ... on the actual neck of the sculpture it gives his dates (1854 - 1900).
In my first post - as linked above - Ian Visit's post: he comments @dotted around the base is a long freeze of lettering, which Ian admits to being unable to extract any meaning from. As he says 'they are probably an anagram of something, but the nearby explanatory sign doesn't explain that aspect of the sculpture' ... I think I gave up at that point ... especially as I'm not going to London to look - so sorry can't really help you. Cheers Hilary
That mosaic panel is fascinating, isn't it, Hils?
Have a serene day.
Cheers
Ooh, those mosaics look really interesting!
An interesting concept behind the making of the Oscar Wilde sculpture. Learning about the background definitely makes it more meaningful, especially since the sculpture itself doesn't seem to have any obvious clues as to the reasons behind its formulation. I haven't seen his work before, but Paolozzi's graphic works are gorgeous! I'd love to see the triptych tapestry in person.
@ Sandra - yes I think I must take a walk around Tottenham Court Road tube station when I'm next in London to see them in situ ...
@ Deniz - perhaps you'll have a chance to check them out next time you're over here in London ...
@ Damyanti - yes getting the understanding of why the sculpture was crafted makes much more sense than just looking at it.
I expect you've seen the Newton sculpture outside the British Library - even on the internet - which Paolozzi created based on William Blake's 1795 print 'Newton' - where Newton appears to be illustrating world thought to be determined by mathematical laws. He was Scottish - and gave a lot of his works to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.
Thanks so much to you three for visiting and commenting ... cheers Hilary
I did not realize he was the first to display the word pop;)
Have a grand one, Hils.
Hi Sandra - yes ... it's interesting to understand where 'history' comes from ... albeit cultural art history and the word 'pop' ... and yes I'm trying (not a good word!) to catch up - cheers Hilary
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