Treasures unveiled at The Cass Sculpture Foundation
Nestled deep within the beautiful woodland of the Goodwood estate, The Cass Sculpture Foundation is a magical and breathtaking place. Open until 6th November, the Sculpture Estate has recently installed two newly commissioned pieces of monumental British sculpture, to sit alongside around 80 other works from leading British artists.
Awst and Walther - 'I Miss You'
I Miss You takes the shape of a 3.5m high jar. The silhouette of the jar is recognisable to many as a familiar kitchen condiment and is symbolic of product, container and of consumption.
Despite its foreboding scale, the title gives this work a personal and human element. Just like a hole in the heart, the hole at the centre of I Miss You is indicative of a void or emptiness. The void in this work creates a space one can physically pass through – acting as shelter that is protective and embracing.
Loss is implied by the framed silhouette of ‘nothingness’ in the work, filled by a far-off landscape. Metaphorically, the hole at the centre of the jar alludes to the finite possibilities for material consumption to fill this void.
The gold finish of I Miss You emphasises the preciousness of this object, by alluding both to the literal value of the object itself and the abstract value of what has been lost. The kitchen-counter container coupled with this gold finish recall the language of pop art, and specifically the work of Andy Warhol who elevated the status of the everyday object to that of a work of art. This intentional analogy draws one’s thoughts back to the mundane consumer value of the jar.
I Miss You characterises Awst & Walther’s ability to produce simple, iconic objects rich with physical and emotional associations.
Alex Hoda - Whilrwind
Despite the figurative associations of Whirlwind, its physical shape is firmly grounded in abstraction. Where its title and form are suggestive of a very obvious, concrete thing, its method of production is actually the result of a random, abstracting process.
Whirlwind is part of a series of works by Hoda that are created using a new method of production. The starting point for this sculpture is molten copper, which Hoda pours into water to force a reaction that solidifies the material. The result of this process is a miniature, curious, lump of metal that is then digitally scanned and enlarged --finally cast and finished with a raw copper surface.
Whirlwind is the largest commission from this series of works.
The conceptual element of this process harks back to the surrealist method of automatism, which encouraged an element of chaos by ‘dissolving all control exercised by reason,’ as stated by its founder, Andre Breton. Removing himself as the immaculate author of the content of this work, Hoda has allowed the automatic methods of surrealism to govern the piece. In Whirlwind, the bulbous forms and protrusions seem to mimic bone, flesh and organs, further referencing the anthropomorphic figures often found in surrealist work.
Whirlwind captures the frenetic energy and the random construction of a real-life whirlwind. Its organic and intricate structure constantly transforms as different shapes and views seem to emerge – resulting in fragments and abstractions that almost, but never quite, resolve into recognizable forms. This quest for form gives energy to the work, and for the viewer, turns looking into an active process.
All sculptures within the Estate are for sale and The Cass Sculpture Foundation itself and minimalist Foundation Centre can be used for private and business events, photographic shoots and product launches.
For further information, please call 01243 775537.