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Carving in Britain From 1910 to Now

This exhibition (November 2012-January 2013) tells the story of Carving in Britain from 1910 to the present day. The exhibition includes iconic works of twentieth century carving and brings the contemporary practice of carving into focus. The artists included are Henri Gaudier Brezka, Frank Dobson, Jacob Epstein, Eric Gill, Barbara Hepworth, F.E McWilliam, Henry Moore, Peter Randall- Page, Leon Underwood, Emily Young and Julian Wild. Rob Ward is represented by six sculptures. The intention is to play with the tradition of carving by exploring combinations of objects juxtaposed to create new and unknown objects derived from the quotidian, thereby establishing a new relationship to the traditional. The surreal context is not one associated with carving in its historical context, instead each sculpture is being made in parts and joined. An intentional humour is created by the balance and transformation of objects into stone, affording resemblance. The purpose behind the work is to teach a stone to smile. ‘Flask and Seed’ (1m x 20cm x 20cm) balances a seed cone on an upturned glass flask. ‘Tool’ (50cm x 1m x 30cm) is a found modelling tool in white marble with serrated edges, balanced on a Christmas decoration. ‘Boat on Stand’ (1m x 50cm x 30 cm) in white marble and black granite presents a stand turned in a spiral form, holding aloft a black granite boat derived from a seed cone. ‘Different Places 13’ (1m x 30 x 30 cm) in white marble derives from a glass ink well in the shape of a house, transformed by an egg shape surmounting it. ‘Different Places 9’ is carved in white marble and combines three elements, a paper weight, a cone and spheres. ‘Different Places 8’ (1.2m x 50 x 50) in white marble is made from two vessels, and a pine cone.