Conflict and Collisions
dal 30/9/2014 al 24/1/2015
Segnalato da
30/9/2014
Conflict and Collisions
The Hepworth Wakefield, Wakefield
New Contemporary Sculpture. Comprising three solo exhibitions by contemporary artists - Alexandra Bircken, Folkert de Jong and Toby Ziegler - the exhibition considers themes of historical and contemporary combat and of man versus machine.
Alexandra Bircken: Eskalation
Folkert De Jong: The Holy Land
Toby Ziegler / Charles Sargeant Jagger
CONFLICT AND COLLISIONS: NEW CONTEMPORARY SCULPTURE
From 1 October 2014 until 25 January 2015, The Hepworth Wakefield presents its autumn season,
Conflict and Collisions: New Contemporary Sculpture, comprising three solo exhibitions, each
featuring a new, site-specific commission by contemporary artists: Alexandra Bircken, Folkert de
Jong and Toby Ziegler.
Coinciding with this year’s WW1 commemorations, Conflict and Collisions: New Contemporary
Sculpture, considers themes of historical and contemporary combat and of man versus machine,
juxtaposing handmade and hand-finished objects with mechanical weaponry, state-of-the art digital
technologies and 3D printing.
ALEXANDRA BIRCKEN: ESKLATION
German artist Alexandra Bircken presents a series of recent works that showcase a new approach
in her practice, as well as a new site-specific commission for The Hepworth Wakefield.
Through her latest work, B.U.F.F, 2014, Bircken continues to explore her interest in reoccurring
concepts within C20th sculpture: male verses female, and the handmade versus the mechanical.
Comprising four component works (Big, 2014; Ugly, 2014; Fat, 2014; Fellow, 2014), B.U.F.F, 2014
collectively refers to the American B-52 bombers, used by the United States Air Force from the
1950s. Made from wood, foam, plastic textiles and latex, the direct reference to weaponry and
warfare is conversely sensualised through a textile ‘skin’, covering each component, coated in fabric
and black latex. In Mercedes and her Sisters, 2014, Bircken explores the abstract and formal
properties of objects by repurposing them as figurative sculptures, in this instance five gear-sticks
represent five female forms.
In addition, Bircken will create a new, site-specific installation, interacting with the architecture of
the geometric spaces designed by David Chipperfield Architects. A series of ladders across the
spaces will recall Hepworth’s ‘stringed sculptures’. Adorned with a large number of ‘skins’,
reminiscent of deflated human bodies, this element explores Bircken’s interest in representing the
fabric as skin, a type of clothing for the human body, a protective boundary.
FOLKERT DE JONG: THE HOLY LAND
Dutch artist Folkert de Jong’s new site-specific commission draws on the collections of armour and
contemporary weapons held by the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds. In particular, De Jong has
focused on two elements of the Royal Armouries’ collection: the personal armour of Henry VIII and
contemporary modern firearms.
The suits of armour, made at different points in Henry VIII's life, demonstrate his changing body
shape: from a lean, young man of twenty, to a considerably larger, older statesman. In addition, De
Jong has selected contemporary weapons from the collection, including machine and hand guns.
Both historical and contemporary objects have been reproduced using the latest 3D scanning
process, reprinted as polystyrene figurations, reconfigured by the hand of the artist (degraded,
damaged, or altered in scale), before their final presentation in bronze.
The finished bronzes will be presented within a sculptural installation that will include an armada
of bronze ships and coloured acrylic display cases containing polystyrene sculptures and a sandpit,
as visual connections to the casting and creative processes involved.
TOBY ZIEGLER / CHARLES SARGEANT JAGGER
British artist Toby Ziegler continues his long-standing interest in making visual connections
between history, memory and digital technologies.
Ziegler takes as his starting point the WW1 plaster frieze from Wakefield’s collection, No Man’s
Land, 1919-20 by renowned war memorial artist and Yorkshireman, Charles Sargeant Jagger (1885-
1934), to create a three-part sculptural composition, echoing the composition of the frieze.
This will be the first time in 20 years that the plaster version of Jagger’s No Man’s Land will be on
public display. Supported within a network of aluminium joists, the frieze will overlook a three-
metre high aluminium sculpture of a human foot. This new commission expands on Ziegler’s
interrogation of ‘war porn’ - trophy images posted online of war casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Dismembered limbs are reconfigured and abstracted using digital technologies.
The final element of the installation comprises a 3D printer that will produce a Newell teapot
within the gallery space on a daily basis. Created in 1975 by early computer graphics researcher
Martin Newell, this mathematical model serves as a test-card for reproducing a simple teapot and
cites another instance of the potentially endless reproduction and of images and objects in the
digital age.
Ziegler will also show new work in The Calder, The Hepworth Wakefield’s contemporary art space,
a 19 century former textiles mill situated in the gallery gardens. Expanded Narcissistic Envelope
(1 October – 16 November) will incorporate a series of new, aluminium sculptures, whose reflective,
multi-faceted surfaces directly reference their digital origins. These often unfold in pairs – one
version in fully inflated 3D, the other, deflated or crumpled, lying low on the ground. Ziegler
continues to explore the play between sculptural form and digital image through a series of
architectural interventions and expansive printed surfaces.
Visitors can enjoy free admission to all three exhibitions within the new autumn season - Conflict
and Collisions: New Contemporary Sculpture. In addition, there will be a number of related events
and talks. For further details about these, as well as the gallery’s autumn public programme and
free, family-friendly activities visit www.hepworthwakefield.org or telephone 01924 247360.
Image: Alexandra Bircken, 'Fellow', 2014. Courtesy the artist, Herald St, London and BQ, Berlin. Photo: Roman Maerz, Berlin.
For further details, interview requests and photo opportunities please contact:
Naomi Roberts, Media Officer
T: +44 (0)1924 247392
M: +44(0)7717 807512
E: naomiroberts@hepworthwakefield.org
Open to the public: Wednesday 1 October, 10am – 5pm
The Hepworth Wakefield
Gallery Walk - Wakefield, West Yorkshire
The Calder is open 12 – 4.30pm Tuesday – Sunday
Closed Mondays except for bank holidays and during local school holidays. Open until 8.30pm on the third Thursday of the month and for Wakefield ArtWalk.
Free admission