Page 17 - Studio International - September 1972

News and the museum charges. Lord Eccles was firm in 'British Sculptors
his assurance that these would be introduced
notes as planned. 72'
Bryan Kneale in conversation
The Serpentine Gallery wishes to announce
application dates for all printmakers under 35, with Peter Atkins
excluding students, who wish to submit prints
either for small one-man shows at the gallery, Bryan Kneale: I came across an article in the
or for display in the print-bins during the 1973 May issue of this magazine about the recent
season. Application forms are available at the sculpture exhibition at the Academy. It missed
gallery (telephone 01-402 6075, or write to the point of the show so much that I felt I
Serpentine Gallery, Kensington Gardens, needed to make some comments of my own.
W2 3XA) and should accompany all prints (no I originally wanted to complain about the level
more than 3) posted or delivered to the gallery. of criticism we get back but when I began to
Submission dates are November 1-14, when the think about the problem the issue broadened in
office will be open from 10-5 (excluding my mind. I decided I was thinking not only
Saturday and Sunday). The selection committee from the point of view of a sculptor but also as
will select works after that date and somebody who teaches sculpture as well. We
printmakers will be notified of its decision as have often touched on these issues while we
Herr Ernst Fischer the critic and leading soon as possible. are at the College and I thought we might go
Austrian Marxist died on August 1. After the over some of the points in a discussion.
War he held office in Austria as Minister of The crisis in Ireland. The following resolution
Education and communist deputy. He was has been passed: 'There is a group of people in Peter Atkins : I remember you said that the
perhaps best known in this country as the author London who are actively interested in Academy exhibition originated with an
of 'Marxist Approach' and 'Art v Ideology.' investigating the possibility of an exposition invitation to you to become an A.R.A. which
to reflect the reality of the situation in Ireland you accepted conditional on the Academy
Lord Eccles delivered a lecture at the ICA in and who think that it is an important proposal mounting a sculpture exhibition. The whole
July. He said he had come to talk about culture, and are prepared to support it as far as they are thing took off and you said an enormous effort
by which he didn't just mean the so-called fine able.' Among those who signed were Father was made by the Academy.
arts but also cinema and the crafts. He then Cyril Barrett, Stuart Brisley, Tim Hilton,
turned to the question of freedom of expression Robert MacDowall, the organizer, Gustave BK : That is absolutely true, they redecorated
in the arts with particular reference to his recent Metzger and Jane Morris. Anyone interested in galleries (and how the recent summer show
visit to the UNESCO conference of European giving support or requiring further information has benefited), lowered ceilings, covered floors,
Ministers of Culture in Helsinki. He had found please contact Robert MacDowall, c/o The and it is astounding what exceptionally good
the communist bloc as implacable as ever: Slade School of Art, Gower St, WCi. Tel. sculpture-showing places the galleries turned
threatened by the new technology they wanted 01-387-8659. out to be. It seemed just the right time for a
some form of international understanding about show. The Whitechapel Gallery which had
the limits of freedom of expression. Lord Eccles Krazy Kat Archive, Department of Fine Arts, been run by Brian Robertson so successfully
had naturally opposed this in principle, though St Salvator's College, St Andrews. Donations no longer functioned and the only way for the
he hoped he didn't have to tell an ICA audience of artefacts, however old, and pulp magazines work of up and coming sculptors to be seen
that freedom didn't 'mean freedom to do any on any subject, however recent, will be very was in the largely unsatisfactory space of
damn thing you like.' This was crucial. 'The gratefully received and acknowledged. commercial galleries.
way we act upon our concept of freedom is what Because I teach at the Royal College I have
will win or lose the day in the struggle to produce The Kasmin gallery is closing in December. an interest in encouraging sculptors who have
a post-industrial society, one which goes beyond Business in future will be conducted from a been students there but additionally for my own
both liberal/capitalism and socialist/ West End office and Kasmin is starting a new sake I want to get the measure of their work in a
communism.' Lord Eccles warned the audience gallery in Paris with Barry Rubin and Beatrice public situation. As a professional sculptor I
against the danger of novelty for its own sake, Monte. Exhibitions will be divided equally think there is a great need for a periodic survey
of artists and intellectuals isolating themselves between the two galleries represented, the of what is happening in sculpture and this
from the 90% of the general public: 'Supposing Rubin Gallery, New York and the Galleria del clearly involves a large exhibition and there are
you were born with just a little more than the Ariete, Milan, and Kasmin. The opening will not many galleries which can handle it. I am
average intelligence and that you have had what be in the forthcoming season. Kasmin himself not even sure if it is possible to put on a really
is called a good education, how easily can you will continue to base his activities on London. comprehensive show but I am certainly not
talk to a coal-miner, a lorry-driver, or a carpenter The final shows at the gallery will be Darby satisfied with those we have had in recent years.
or to his wife and kids ?' Locally constituted Bannard (Sept), Stephen Buckley (Oct), They seem largely representative of somebody's
ginger groups had already been set up in the Anthony Caro (Nov) and David Hockney taste or to be selected to illustrate some current
regions to infiltrate this 90% but what was really (Dec). attitude towards sculpture. We need a way of
needed was the animateur, the go-between putting different kinds of work together in
between the general public and the artist. Where Multiples in Japan: readers may wonder why such a way that it can be meaningfully
were these animateurs and who were they to be ? there is no coverage of Japanese multiples in compared. We get no help from the critics; the
At present there were only about three. this issue. The reason is, there aren't any. Akira level of writing on sculpture, with one or two
Afterwards Lord Eccles answered questions. Kurita went looking: 'I could not find no gallery exceptions, is abysmally low.
Nigel Abercrombie said there were at least ten which ever tried to make multiples and a sadder
animateurs and then left. Lord Eccles talked fact is that no gallery has any future plan to make PA: Certainly the way sculpture can be seen
of the importance of geographic decentralization multiples. In reality, I met not a slight difficulty now is not satisfactory. The permanent public
and the need for more money. David Thompson to explain "What is multiple ?" to the gallery collection does not belong to the category of
concluded the discussion with a question about owners and staffs !' exhibitions which bring sculpture forward for
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