Comment

Mother and Child by Richard Hayward. DB4523P01

STONE has been sculpted for centuries as demonstrated by the Polynesian stone figures of Easter Island, the magnificent carved granite temples of Mamallapuram in India, dating from the seventh century and, much closer to home, Stonehenge.

Ten contemporary sculptors of stone whose work differs widely both in concept and execution, but whose influences can be traced back to timeless themes, are exhibiting an eclectic range of pieces at Salisbury Arts Centre.

The carved Gods and Goddesses from Rajasthan inspired Paulien Gluckman's Indian Cow (carved in lemon stone from Zimbabwe). Roger Stephens' two exhibits, Detortion (marble on slate base) and Stem (Mansfield white limestone on Portland roach base) are both inspired by the outside influence on vegetation by weather, time or climate.

Benedict Leach captures a variety of moods in his Tower of Fools (Portland stone), each face carrying a different expression.

Gary Breeze, renowned for his lettercutting in stone, has won numerous major public commissions, most recently, the installation of a fountain and tree at Christ Church, Oxford.

You can see his Lapis Ad Animos Liberandos Erectus (Kinder millstone grit) at the Stone exhibition.

All the exhibits look incredibly tactile making it hard for the observer not to touch, and this is particularly the case with Paulien Gluckman's Lotus made from alabaster.

The artist says she wanted "to create a hollow form to bring out the transparent beauty of the material."

Roger Stephens, who lives in Salisbury, commends Journal readers to visit this exhibition: "This is a unique opportunity to see an exhibition by sculptors where all the works are entirely of stone.

"The selection of figurative, abstract and lettercut pieces show how this physically challenging art form is used to create works of tactile beauty."

Accompanying the sculptures are examples of the artists' preparatory drawings, illustrating the creative process and these have been imaginatively used as a backdrop frieze to the sculptures.

11:36am Thursday 7th August 2008

Print

Email this

Comment