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Francis Upritchard: Wetwang Slack

Francis Upritchard: Wetwang Slack
Library Shelf Location 18.UPRI
Publication Date 01 Nov 2018
Description

Catalogue published by Barbican to accompany the exhibition Francis Upritchard: Wetwang Slack in The Curve gallery.

Marking the 30th Curve commission at the Barbican, New Zealand born and London-based artist Francis Upritchard has created a new, site-specific installation.

Drawing from figurative sculpture, craft traditions and design, blended with references from literature and history, Upritchard pushes these practices into new directions, bringing them together to create a striking and original visual language of her own. Francis Upritchard: Wetwang Slack opened in The Curve on Thursday 27 September 2018.

Playing with scale, colour and texture, Upritchard is populating The Curve with a spectrum of different materials, vibrant figures and eclectic objects. The exhibition begins with brightly coloured polymer clay sculptures in various poses, bedecked in hand-made garments supported by plinths, leading to a series of bespoke metal and glass shelves suspended from the ceiling, displaying smaller-scale felt hats. As the exhibition unfolds the colour slowly weakens from the sculptures concluding with large figures made from balata, a wild rubber harvested in Brazil. These are inspired by the Parthenon Reliefs; creatures from science fiction novels; and the Japanese folklore characters of Ashinaga-tenaga (Long Legs and Long Arms), who extol the virtues of harmonious working relationships, coalescing into a melting pot of traditions where no dominant culture persists.

ISBN 9780995708242
Quantity 1
Pages 48pp, 25cm x 18cm
Authors Leila Hasham, Francis Upritchard, Tessa Laird, Gwynneth Porter
Format Hardcover
Publisher Barbican Gallery, London
Related Artist Francis Upritchard
Category Artist (relating to a single artist/collaborative team)
Keywords Sculptures, Ceramics, Assemblages (sculpture), mixed media sculpture

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