Epstein, Gaudier-Brzeska, Gill at Royal Academy

Wild Thing – Exhibition Devoted to Three 20th Century Sculptors

Nov 2, 2009

Wild Thing explores the work of three of the 20th century's outstanding artists Eric Gill, Sir Jacob Epstein and Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, known as "sculptors in revolt".

The Royal Academy of Arts has recently opened an exhibition entitled Wild Thing: Epstein, Gaudier-Brzeska, Gill.

Epstein, Gaudier-Brzeska, Gill – Sculptors in Revolt

Sir Jacob Epstein (1880-1959), Henri Gaudier-Brzeska (1891-1915) and Eric Gill (1882-1940) where three artists who changed the course of British sculpture – they were known as “sculptors in revolt”

Wild Thing... occupies three galleries of the Sackler Wing, with one gallery devoted to each artist. This is the first time that these three sculptors have been shown together. The exhibition examines the main themes that influenced the three artists including sex and fertility, the human condition, the affects of warfare and the machine age.

The display, which features over 90 works including sculptures, drawings and pastels, highlights the important achievements of each artist and explores their profound affect on British sculpture.

The exhibition also examines the relationships between the three artists and some of their close friends. For example, Gaudier-Brzeska first met the American poet Ezra Pound in 1913. According to Pound, Gaudier-Brzeska reminded him of a “well-made young wolf or some soft-moving, bright-eyed wild thing.” (Wild Thing: Epstein, Gaudier-Brzeska, Gill, Royal Academy of Arts, Cork. R.,p.11.) These last two words are now invoked to sum up the innovative work of all three artists.

Sir Jacob Epstein

The exhibition features exciting pieces such as Epstein's robotic sculpture The Rock Drill (1913-1914). Between 1913 and 1915 the artist was briefly associated with the Vorticist movement and this piece, one of his most well-known, dates from that period.

Originally, Epstein placed a menacing torso on top of a real pneumatic drill. After the carnage of World War I, and the death of Gaudier-Brzeska, Epstein removed the drill, chopped off the driller's legs and severed his hand. The torso was then cast in bronze. The figure, once a symbol of the machine age, has now become a mutilated victim of warfare.

The exhibition features a number of preparatory sketches together with a reconstructed Rock Drill. The reconstruction, created by Ann Christopher and Ken Cook, was shown at the 1974 Hayward Gallery exhibition Vorticism and its Allies.

Henri Gaudier-Brzeska

Henri Gaudier-Brzeska was another artist whose name was associated with the Vorticist movement. His work often reflects the influence of Ezra Pound, close friend and advisor. On display are the geometric Redstone Dancer (ca. 1913) and the more organic Birds Erect (1914). Gaudier-Brzeska's work was becoming more daring and innovative but sadly he died while serving with the French army in 1915.

Eric Gill

Gill, also known as a typographer, was fascinated by erotic pleasures. He produced some highly explicit sculptures of the sex act. Ecstasy (1910-1911), based on the naked figures of his sister Gladys and her husband, was inspired by the overt sensuality of Hindu temple sculptures.

Also on view is A Roland for Oliver/Joie de Vivre (1910) depicting a nude woman with exposed genitals.

Gill, who became a Roman Catholic in 1913, was also responsible for a set of reliefs called Stations of the Cross carved during the First World War. A preparatory sketch is included in the display. The reliefs are discussed in Westminster Cathedral – London.

The exhibition is supported by a fully illustrated catalogue in which Richard Cork, curator of the exhibition, discusses the contribution of the three artists to British sculpture in the early twentieth century. The publication is available in two editions:

The Royal Academy is already hosting an exhibition of sculpture by the another revolutionary sculptor, Anish Kapoor, a show which has attracted record crowds since its very first day. Visitors to the Academy can enjoy Anish Kapoor until 11th December 2009 and Wild Thing: Epstein, Gaudier-Brzeska, Gill until 24th January 2010. Further details of both exhibitions can be obtained from the Royal Academy.

The copyright of the article Epstein, Gaudier-Brzeska, Gill at Royal Academy in Special Art Gallery Exhibits is owned by Frances Spiegel. Permission to republish Epstein, Gaudier-Brzeska, Gill at Royal Academy in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.