Involved in the moments of Direct Carving, Abstraction-Création, Constructivism and Modernist. I approve of this artists because she is one of the very few female individuals that was able to achieve international notability and status within the art world. And that achievement is hugely significant, made more so, considering that the art field at a decade ago-and to some extend- was a hugely male dominated field with the recognition awards and status symbols being entitled to men. Now that achievement is not only encouraging to me as a female art student, but also to myself as a feminist based artist.
The subject matter of the piece featured below, is a mother and her child. I am given he impression that the subject matter was selected as an exploratory approach to the concept of motherhood. Hepworth has interpreted the concept in an abstract and distorted from. One would wish to infer that Hepworth contemplated on presenting motherhood in this format because the whole process of being a mother-from conception to birth-is a complex process which varies for each participating individual. The abstract shape of the sculpture could have reflections in the concept that motherhood is not a straightforward process.
The sculpture has been arranged on a marble base and positioned, on the left hand side. The piece has multiple curves and rounded soft edges-providing a resemblance to the curves a mother develops as she carries her child...she essentially becomes softer, with sharp and flat areas becoming fuller and rounder to cradle a developing foetus. The colours in this piece are of a neutral hue. Another potential nod to the process of the growing foetus-generally the sex of child isn't addressed, and hence referred to as a they, never a he nor she.
The materials used to create this work, were Cumberland alabaster and marble and the piece was produced using a sculptural practice known as direct carving. Direct carving is a process, in which no models or sculptural maquettes are used to plan the work, but rather the final form of the sculpture emerges through the act of carving the material.Through this technique, these artists emphasised the inherent properties of the materials, and the marble, stone and wood that they used was rubbed and polished in order to enhance its natural texture, colours and markings.
As this was a direct carving the only stages in the production of this work, were the larger piece was sculpted first and then the second smaller one was sculptured separately and placed at a later point. And I believe that she constructed this sculpture using carving tools.
When observing this work, one contemplates a sense of appreciation for mothers their children's. There is a quiet maternal feels about this sculpture, the aura of a gentle maternal nature, echoes off the sculpture, but doesn't present itself directly, in a graphic form of a uncomfortable nature. I would like to presume that this sculpture-would be suitable in a maternity ward or fertility clinic.
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| Mother & Child,1934 Cumberland alabaster on marble base |
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