A stunning new temporary exhibition of recent work by Emily Young has just been installed in Berkeley Square, Mayfair. Six gigantic heads by one of Britain’s, if not the World’s greatest living sculptors.
The heads are enormous, up to two metres tall and weighing as much as four tonnes each. Unlike her giant heads in St Paul’s churchyard, it is possible to get really close to these new works, walk around them, touch them and really appreciate their scale and the sheer craft involved in their production.
At once figurative and abstract, ancient and modern, natural, yet man-made, monumental, yet deeply sensitive, a sense of solid permanence and fleeting transience are poetically combined; these are quite the most interesting and engaging new sculptures I have seen in many years.
Emily Young’s “The Metaphysics of Stone” will run in Berkeley Square, from 7th February – 25 April 2012. During February there is also an exhibition of more new work from the artist at The Fine Art Society in New Bond Street.
You can read more about them and Emily Young at the FAS site or on the artist’s own website. But far better than reading any more, I would suggest that instead, you hop on a tube to Green Park and experience them for yourself.
The author of this blog is a qualified City of Westminster Tour Guide who runs unique walking tours throughout Westminster, see tabs for details.
Wow what a great chance to get up close and personal with these great works of art.
I must admit I’m a toucher where sculpture comes in. I think half the pleasure and beauty is in the feel of the stone and the way it is carved.