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Lecture - In conversation with Cathie Pilkington and Neil Walton in regards to Elisabeth Frink and figurative sculpture.


Although my own work doesn't reside with figurative sculpture i thought it would be an interesting to see how others view the work of Frink and what they think of using bronze as a medium in the modern day. Not only this but i thought it would be a great place to talk to people outside of university who all have an interest in sculpture and most likely are sculptors themselves. As well as this i recently visited Humans and other Animals exhibition at UEA, by going to this lecture it will hopefully give me and wider understanding.


  • What does it mean to make figurative sculpture? 
  • Pilkington traditionally uses modelling clay and plaster to form her sculptures, she enjoys making through touch and seeing the work present itself through her labour
  • Pilkington uses domestic spaces as her gallery space - feeling of making at home using the things around her as inspiration to incorporate into a piece. 
  • plinths shouldn't be just a plinth, its important to play around with the space and make the plinth part of the work.
  • Pilkinton looks at something that is very familiar and distorts it without veering to far away from its original purpose (dolls) - some of her works have two faces or unnatural features however by using the human form as a doll its feels as though it is acceptable to distort and still very relatable. 
  •  Its important when making work with a gallery space in mind that you should consider the space and how a piece could work with the environment and how this informs the viewer in a different manner to that of making it in a studio. 
  • Frink made her sculptures by applying very wet plaster using vasy motions and using up all the plaster even after it dried - Dying king 1963 - powerful and a feeling of accomplishment working with the materials.
Image result for dying king frink
Elizabeth Frink Dying King 1963

  • Materials and context could be seen as dying in figurative sculpture
  • when looking at a figurative sculpture finding that i am looking at it and believing that it has its own life. 
  • Reg Butler - Circe keeping the runners and risers relating to the process of bronze casting - what does it mena to show the way it is made as an element of the finished sculpture? maybe showing the importance of the process and something that shouldn't be forgotten. 

Image result for circe reg butler
Reg Butler Circe 1953
  • Anthony Caro's Woman Waking Up apposed to the Dying King by Frink show a very mundane task apposed to something that none of us will ever relate to. 
  • Caro's shift in practise comes from his time in the US and seeing David Smith converting him from figurative to abstract sculpture - around this time there was no clash between figurative and abstract they were both seen as very separate practises. 
  • Caro worked in the same college as Frink and its most likely that Frink was influenced by this abstract art and creates a blend of both figurative and abstract in the form of Goggle heads. - could be seen that the goggles reflect creating an environment for self reflection because you cant see into the eyes resulting in the fact that you cant study the figure and that you cant figure out Frink. The presentation of them on bricks, has two contrasting concepts of this prized bronze metal and then these very cheap everyday breeze blocks. These figures resemble Frink even though she says they aren't of her maybe she is blind to her own creation. 
Image result for goggle heads
Elizabeth Frink Goggle Heads 1969
  • Pilkington looks at how soft and hard materials can flow together and create one fluid form.
  • Pilkington has also taken ispiration from Reg Butler by creating doll casts and leaving their runners still attached - influences is always taken from other artists.
  • Frink Riace 1- kind of seen as a failed piece by Frink doesn't really follow what she is trying to put across. the white face seems to make the bronze look black resulting in a black man with a painted on white face. the figure also comes across quite thuggish and somewhat intimidating
  • bronze sculpture may not have the same power as it once did however it is important to make it relevant in contemporary art today. In the past bronze has been used in figurative objects now it should venture further. 
Research looked at:

  • http://www.artnet.com/artists/elisabeth-frink/
  • Sainsbury centre 
  • https://scva.ac.uk/art-and-artists/exhibitions/elisabeth-frink-humans-and-other-animals
  • https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/frink-goggle-head-t07396
  • https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/butler-circe-head-t03867
  • https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/frink-dying-king-t07395
Notes in text book pages 4

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