λ KENNETH ARMITAGE (BRITISH 1916-2002)
FIGURE BETWEEN WALLS
Polished bronze
Height: 31cm (12in.)
Executed circa. 1970s
Provenance:
Acquired directly from the artist
Kenneth Armitage started to explore working with new materials and techniques during his teaching position as Head of Sculpture at Bath Academy of Art, Corsham. Moving away from carving in stone Armitage began to experiment with plaster, metal and casting in bronze. He was particularly drawn to bronze for its capability to hold both rough, unpolished textures and smooth, reflective surfaces.
Figure Between Walls cast in the 1970s exemplifies Armitage's mature style, where the polished bronze surface conveys a sense of refinement while the figure itself, with one leg raised and arms aloft, appears deceptively straightforward. After a closer look, the missing face and the figure's positioning between two imposing blocks disrupt the apparent simplicity, introducing an ambiguity that resonates with tension and movement.
Armitage's figures often reject naturalism in favour of abstraction and psychological depth. Here, the rigid blocks juxtaposed with the figure's energetic gesture suggest both constraint and determination, evoking themes of resilience and transformation. The work balances monumentality and playfulness, reflecting Armitage's enduring ability to channel universal human emotions through sculptural form.
λ KENNETH ARMITAGE (BRITISH 1916-2002)
FIGURE BETWEEN WALLS
Polished bronze
Height: 31cm (12in.)
Executed circa. 1970s
Provenance:
Acquired directly from the artist
Kenneth Armitage started to explore working with new materials and techniques during his teaching position as Head of Sculpture at Bath Academy of Art, Corsham. Moving away from carving in stone Armitage began to experiment with plaster, metal and casting in bronze. He was particularly drawn to bronze for its capability to hold both rough, unpolished textures and smooth, reflective surfaces.
Figure Between Walls cast in the 1970s exemplifies Armitage's mature style, where the polished bronze surface conveys a sense of refinement while the figure itself, with one leg raised and arms aloft, appears deceptively straightforward. After a closer look, the missing face and the figure's positioning between two imposing blocks disrupt the apparent simplicity, introducing an ambiguity that resonates with tension and movement.
Armitage's figures often reject naturalism in favour of abstraction and psychological depth. Here, the rigid blocks juxtaposed with the figure's energetic gesture suggest both constraint and determination, evoking themes of resilience and transformation. The work balances monumentality and playfulness, reflecting Armitage's enduring ability to channel universal human emotions through sculptural form.
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