‘When Forms Come Alive’ was an amazing exhibition, full of so many inspiring sculptures that I enjoyed sketching and taking ideas from to create my own. I particularly liked the moving sculptures and wire weaving by Ruth Asawa.’ (Ayeishah, Art Scholar, Year 10)
On Saturday 27th April, Mr Reed, Ms. Cottone and Art Scholars from Year 6 to L6 visited the Hayward Gallery to explore the exhibition, ‘When Forms Come Alive’. Pupils were mesmerised by the diverse range of sculptures in the show from the 1960s to today that seemed to defy and rebel – lead sculpted to look like flowing water, glass bulging through bronze, foam spilling over scaffolding, kinetic jellyfish-like silk lampshades.
Something from Tennyson’s Kraken comes to mind here; his mythical creature wouldn’t look out of place if rendered by one of these artists, everything is oozing, pulsating, otherworldly. The pupils enjoyed responding to these strange forms and were lucky to have the opportunity to witness first hand some of the greats of sculpture post 1960: Lynda Benglis’ Quartered Meteor, Ruth Asawa’s hanging copper forms.
After drawing a selection of the works in the gallery, pupils took part in a workshop run by the A Level Scholars. In three groups, they used string and card, tights and stuffing, foil blankets and foil to create sculptural interventions on the National Theatre terrace. They used the benches and railings as part of their work, going about their designs confidently, unperturbed by onlookers. Their works were inspired by Holly Hendry’s site-responsive Sottobosco, from the Hayward Gallery show, a sculpture at the top of the gallery that creeps across a long rectangular windowsill. Hendry’s piece resembles curved and undulating ventilation ducts which juxtapose the angular form of the Hayward Gallery architecture. The Scholars’ sculpture interventions were bold and adventurous and reflected their creativity and excellent teamwork.
Ms Cottone, Deputy Head of Art
