Antony Gormley

[Lynne]

Not sure what the absolute definition of a sculpture is.
Must look it up.
If you have looked on the website, Noel, it shows the process of how they were constructed from the self- modelling onwards -very interesting.
Whatever I like them
[8D]

[noel]

I couldn't find the process Lynne, what I did find was a listing " cast iron" followed by the dimensions, 195cms tall. Like you, I like them. I would have called them Guardians of the beach, that is what they look like to me.

[Lynne]

Sorry Noel.I now can't find the pictures of the process I saw ,from the artists naked body being prepared for the moulding, to the final casting and the emergence of the figures.
Will keep looking -I just know it wasn't a senior moment this time.
I suppose the divided response to the figures is an age- old question of what people expect of Art in all its forms.
Caroline will be able to write a lot more sensibly and with knowledge on this. I did look up the many definitions of Art and liked the one which said 'Art is an expression of beauty or significance.'
In one article I looked at 'Another World' was described as' a poetic response to emigration and its emotional responses'
The figures are waiting in 'silent expectation'
I must say I have looked at some 'Art' and thought what a load of rubbish.
When one of Picasso's masterpieces was stolen recently -Portrait of his wife-I thought well I wonder if she liked it because it does nothing for me.I expect it was the significance angle!
[8D]

[Lynne]

Noel -in the Main Menu of Gormley's site -Go to Photo Essays -then Body Casting Processes -keep clicking next.
Cheers!

[noel]

Got it now thanks Lynne.
I can't imagine Picasso's wife would be too pleased at viewing his painting of her. Having one big eye in the middle of her forehead would have taken some explaining. At least with my wife it would have.[:p]

[Alan Marsden]

On the basis of what apparently passes for Art today I have to wonder

why Michaelangelo took the trouble with his David ,

likewise Rubens,Constable,Turner etc.

[noel]

Those are at the top end of Art Alan, suspending a dead horse from some obscure art gallery whose name eludes me temporarily is very much at the bottom end.
I suspect Gormley's work is somewhere inbetween.

[rocketmanjohn]

I'm with you Alan, what a load of rubbish, just who pays for this? I see it's a charitable trust that just happens to be a limited company, how does this work? How can a charity have limited liabilities when by definition it does'nt have any?
John

[Alan Marsden]

John, It's interesting, to consider the devious antics some people can get away with in order to avoid doing a decent days work !
I'm leaning towards the notion that the world is even crazier than I thought ! I don't blame the work avoiders , but the people who let them gat away with it, the people who sit on the bench looking at the blank canvas and admiring what might have occurred in some tortured so called artists mind, how he had the vision to place the bricks or iron bars in such an artistic non uniform manner !
Our local 'art gallery' , an ultra modern building ,the first thing you see even before entering is a heap of RSJ's ( rolled steel joists), welded together in grotesque fashion and painted orange, it houses hundreds of exhibits all of which are 'abstract ', plasticine models. pictures, tapestries, cast and welded offerings all bearing no resemblance to any known form, not even to their title, on a regular basis touring 'art' exhibitions dispay their offerings,literally everthing they display is also abstract !
Yet,we have a world renowned local artist ( Robert Batemann, now lives on Salt Island B.C. http://www.robertbateman.ca/ ) he produces the most beautiful real life water colors imaginable, not one of his masterpieces is afforded wall space in the gallery. I've even heard people criticise his work as ,too detailed, too lifelike !

We know that the camera is the ideal vehicle for lifelike pictures, but that's a different form of art altogether.

I certainly appreciate and admire many works by impressionists and post impressionists , Renoir comes to mind ,consider his simple oil ,'onions' a wonderful color /shade representation offering something more in a subtle way than a photograph ,likewise Monet,Gainsborough,Turner all offering feelings ,all pleasing the senses,together with a high level of skill, and there's the rub , skill is the basis of acceptable art and there's no way the likes of Picasso or Warholl can be considered for their 'skill' unless it's the skill to convince people that fame is all imprtant and an acceptable alternative ,that garbage can be accepted as artform replacing skill and dedication !

Whether it's art, politics, social sciences etc. you'll find people today who cannot say that rubbish is rubbish, cannot leave well alone, must find some excuse for non effort or antisocial behaviour ,or for what they see as negative trends in society, always accomodating to exterior persuasions, skill, endeviour is worthless, a career in engineering, medical science ,teaching etc. is valued in our society as of less worth than a sportsman even a third rate actor !
Enough (for now), I'll have a scotch and retire to bed !

[shuffy]

Well said Alan.