I’ve always loved walking into the Henry Moore Institute. I guess I’m a bit of a child at heart and the tunnel like entrance corridor and long sweeping steps compel me to run up them. I could already see quite a crowd of people in the reception area all chatting away and enjoying some wine so I quickly curbed that urge and walked sensibly in. Everyone was here to check out the preview of the Hermann Obrist installation. Obrist was made famous as an Art Nouveau sculptor and the Henry Moore Institute is now exhibiting pretty much every surviving piece of his 3D work as well as a prolific collection of his sketches, letters and photographs.
The sculpture certainly stood out for me, ranging from the photos of his solid and permanent mausoleums (mausolea?) to the flowing serpentine forms of his other work. Each individually gives you an insight into the head of a man who quite clearly was very in touch with the fantasy world he conjured up in his mind. The fountains and diorama seem picked straight from his other world and it is easy to see how his portfolio has influenced a lot of artists since he began working. The sketches in particular offer insight into how his work progressed; you get a very visual representation how his designs grew from paper to plaster so to speak.
It was really quite interesting to see such a wide range of people there for the preview as well. HMI has employed a lot of young artists from Leeds and is one of the only art galleries in Leeds that dedicates itself to showing modern art and you can see this in the crowd. There was a good mix of people there to enjoy the free wine and to chat about the treats in the gallery. I didn’t realise the exhibition is accompanied on the Mezzanine Gallery by the series of photo sculptures by Alina Szapocznikow. An apparently improbable series of ‘natural’ forms made from chewing gum and caught for posterity in black and white photographs. I’ll have to pop back to get a cheeky look at those soon.
I think this retrospective really does highlight how wide Obrists range was and how beautiful and intricate his work is. The exhibition is at the Henry Moore Institute now and until the 29th of August and the gallery is open daily 10am – 5.30pm and until 9pm on Wednesdays. Admission is FREE.
We also have a lavish hard back book worth £35 to give away courtesy of the Henry Moore Institute. If you can let us know why this would make a worthy addition to your coffee table or bookshelf it could be yours! The winner is to be chosen 2 weeks from today, so please let us know in the comments below. The usual terms and conditions apply
Hermann Obrist Model for a hill-top church Undated Plaster cast Museum Gestaltung Zurich (Museum of Design Zurich) /Arts and Crafts Collection / Zurich University of Arts Photo: Heinrich Helfenstein ZHdK
I’ve been fascinated by Obrist from a distance for nearly 20 years having studied the Art Nouveau movement in detail for A-level art, even though Obrist only ever appeared in tantalising glimpses in my research materials.
His themes have been re-emerging in my artwork ever since, but I never expected to have a chance to get up close and personal to the man and his works in the UK.
There I was thinking he was some kind of obscure bit-player in the Art Nouveau movement, but here he is getting a proper retrospective in my home town and a decent hard-back tome to indulge in. Thank you Henry Moore for coming up trumps again!
Really hope I can win the lovely book, so I can make up for lost time and get to know the man and his creations better.
I like books and I like art – so send it to me and make me happy.
Oh and my 50th birthday is coming up next month!
Steve
desperately needing new material to read please help
This would be a great prize win. Count me in with out a doubt.
I have no more reason to win than anyone else. I would appreciate the prize though
I’m starting art foundation this September so a book like this would help to inspire and inform my work especially as sculpture is my speciality and I oneday hope to follow in sculptors like Obrist’s footsteps.
I’m not so sure Asking for the Prize i the way to do it!!
I’ll just think the book in my hands and Manifest it!!
To The Eventual Winner Congratulations and to all who entered, Good Luck!
excellent prize
would love to win
super count me in
enter me
cool me plesae
Looks absolutely amazing. I used to love going to the Henry Moore Institue when I was at un i at Leeds, so many good memories. This would be a chance to get to know the work of someone that I had not heard of before.
Well apologies all I’ve been rather slack and had forgotten to pick a winner for this wonderful prize. Well it was very close to be honest but Zoe has pipped the others to the post!
Jessica you were close and Thelma made me laugh out loud so thank for the *ahem* entry.