Barbara Hepworth - Sculpture for a Modern World

Parliament

 A trip of two halves, having pendolinoed smoothly with Sir Richard from Bham a tube-strike meant good old-fashioned leg power to Tate Britain at Millbank. The bonus being a sight seeing trip through Bloomsbury, passing Trafalgar Square, Whitehall and the Houses of Parliament. Great that the Sun had its hat on then. At Tate Britain a Mrs Oh prepared picnic lunch in the Barbara Hepworth inspired garden installation and into the exhibition.

Tate Britain

The exhibition is subdivided into seven areas:
Carving, Studio, International Modernism, Equilibrium, Staging Sculpture, Quarea and Pavillion

Torso 1928 att John Skeaping

Hepworth emerged in the 1920's as one of the leading figures in a new wave of sculptors carving figures in stone and wood. Opening by placing Hepworth's earlier smaller works alongside those of her contemporaries (including her first husband John Skeaping) the exhibition continues with her relationship and marriage to Ben Nicholson
demonstrating how inter-connected their work became during this time.



1932 (profile - Venetian red), Ben Nicholson

For anyone not that familiar with Ben Nicholson's work there are some great early pieces on show. Archive photographs from their personal albums also make for fascinating viewing and place the works on show firmly in context.

Seated Figure 1932 - 3

Hepworth was not just concerned with making a visually beautiful work but also creating a 'unity' between the idea, the material and the dimensions to achieve a sculpture that possesses "a spiritual inner life". She strongly believed that this was the way to "give a work of art its own life and purpose".



Conoid, Sphere and Hollow III 1937

The exhibition deals with Hepworth's deep interest in the use of colour and form and also her passion that artists and architects should work together to create environments where art and architecture fit seamlessly together complementing and enhancing the environment.

Green Caves 1946

Sculpture and Colour (Oval Form)
Pale Blue and Red 1943

In the 50's and 60's as Hepworth's reputation grew so did the Sculptures and she embarked on larger and more challenging works. Quarea, four large sculptures carved from "great log" and Pavilion (based on the Rietveld Pavilion exhibition) show some of these. The largest sculpture in the show, Squares with Two Circles 1963 impressively welcomes visitors at the exhibition entrance.

Forms In Echelon 1938

Seeing these works in the flesh is a joy to behold and although you will never beat the sublime and innate beauty of the Barbara Hepworth Sculpture Garden at Trewyn Studio in St Ives (here the works lie in situ where they were created among sub tropical planting and with the Cornish air adding patina daily) this is definitely a show not to be missed.

Pelagos 1946

In the 'Modern World' where he (or she) that screams loudest often triumphs (though usually temporarily) it is great to remember that empty vessels still make the most noise. There are no garish pink walls or liquorice allsorts floor coverings but these works still shine brightly. They indeed have that "spiritual inner life" that permeates the soul of the onlooker and generates that same optimism felt by the pre-war international avant-garde.


Sphere with Inner Form 1963

Barbara Hepworth Sculpture for a Modern World runs 24th June - 25th October at Tate Britain Millbank, London.

Open daily 10:00 - 18:00

Check details here


Squares with two Circles 1963

Unless you like a good walk Tube-strikes best avoided!
 
Companion book / catalogue £35 - well worth having in your collection.



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