Saturday, 13 February 2016

Hepworth Sculpture Prototypes & Modern Architecture

‘The Gift from the Hepworth Estate’ is a body of over 40 sculptures, installed within the Hepworth Gallery space. The ‘core’ of the collection is a unique group of surviving prototypes – working models - which allow the viewer to see Barbra Hepworth’s unique carving techniques. Most were made from plaster, some in aluminium and bronze and others in wood. These were the works in which the ‘casings’ (the outer shell of sculptures) were cast. Within our group-based ‘Lookbook’ and ‘Brand’ projects, we have chosen an ‘Urban’ theme to be part of the influence for our brands promotional imagery. We are considering using film footage of architecture within our promotional video.

While viewing the exhibition, my attention was focused on the unusual composition of the pieces. They were curved and fluid in their shape, however the inner-structures were composed of a criss-cross aluminium bars which ‘cut through’ the fluidity of the shapes. Forming somewhat of a Juxtaposition (the name of our brand itself).




(Above photos: names unknown, personal photography, taken 12/02/2016)


This idea led me to think of the Bullring shopping centre in Birmingham – fluid and sculptural in its shape, however covered in a skin of strikingly modern aluminium discs:



(Above video: Bullring, Birmingham, personal recording, 5/02/16)

“Designed by Future Systems, architects of the Space Age-style press pavilion at Lord's cricket ground in St John's Wood, it has about it, from the outside at least, not just something of a Pop era frock, but something of the sea and even the ocean depths - something, too, of outer space exploration” – Johnathon Glancey for The Guardian.

Buildings of these types often contrast to their dated surroundings, due to their large investments. The ‘Hepworth Estate; exhibition inspired me to research into abstract modern architecture – with designs that surround the idea of ‘Juxtaposition’ to represent our brand.



REFERENCES:


More on the exhibition at: http://www.hepworthwakefield.org/whatson/the-hepworth-family-gift/

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