Stunning sculpture at historic Shaw House Newbury
Altered States, on the lawns of historic Shaw House, is the fifth large exhibition of outdoor sculpture curated by Jim Crockatt, and there is a noticeably more discerning selection of quality work, with emphasis on aesthetic value and ideas as well as ornamentation.
Inevitably the animal world is well represented, but with a sense of originality as in the work of Brendan Hesmondhalgh, his Gorilla Head being an amalgam of spontaneous, direct abstraction melding seamlessly into the powerful mask of the gorilla.
The wind-driven kinetic pieces of Michael Chaikin create an ever-changing symmetry in the lightest breeze, their mirror-finish elements constantly reflecting light in infinite variation.
Ian Marlow is represented by several stainless-steel pieces of elegant simplicity that evoke natural forms in abstracted distillation, New Wave being perhaps the most original, yet recognisable for its sense of liquid force.
Jeni Cairns cleverly uses the simple form of a vertical steel cylinder pierced to make bird and flower motifs reminiscent of Japanese silverware.
Verticality reigns supreme through almost all the work on show, an exception being the hare by Diccon Dadey diving frantically for the ground. Dadey’s exploitation of scrap welded steel flows into a smooth naturalness.
Uncontained by Philip Rae-Scott is a stand-out piece. Its uncompromising cleverness in its use of material and the sheer luxury of its monochrome finish creates an interplay of light from the corrugated surfaces. It has the authority of abstraction but at the same time the physical presence of commanding reality.
The stylised stone carving by Nicolas Moreton is perhaps blatantly the most figurative work, with its obvious genitalia on show. This was objected to by the church that commissioned the work. However, compromise was reached by re-naming the piece Adam.
The various totems by Jim Crockatt are well considered, painterly, polychromatic combinations, unusual for outdoor sculpture, and bring a welcome colour dimension to the show.
Increasingly, in a world where people live and work virtually and summon “reality” at the press of a button, this show will be a thoroughly enjoyable eye- and mind-opener to all. It is easy for the blasé to overlook the sheer physical and intellectual effort inherent in the making of large sculptural pieces, and every artist in this show deserves respect.
The exhibition runs every day until June 27 (11am-4pm, free entry).
GAVIN WILKINSON
