Sisters, twins and related works...

[Araich]

I need examples of twin sculptures. Not necessarily identicle, but work made to be displayed opposite/beside each other.

The reason is that I am looking at a twin commission where the works will face across a distance of approx 6m (20ft) inside a linkway (path inside building) against either wall.

I'm curious about the history of this kind of thing and keenly aware of the danger that sculpture can become no more than decoration.

All input most welcome.

[obseq]

Are you worried about too much interdependence within a given series?
(Specifically, that the work won't have the same impact as seperate pieces)

What sort of building is this?

[JAZ]

Hi Araich,
Albert Paley has done some abstract sculptures that either arch over pedestrians or are in two halves that people walk between/through. Some of these you can see at www.albertpaley.com. Also, when I was at the ISC symposium in New Orleans, he showed slides of a humungous pair of sculptures, one on either side of a road, that traffic flowed between. I think those were about 70 ft. high or so. Unfortunately, I don't see that one on his site. Look under "Architectural", then "Horizon", Metamorphosis", "Strong Museum Sculpture" and "Reconfiguration" for some examples.

[Araich]

Wow, thanks Jazz, that's along the lines I am after. Plus I am also interested in more archaic work...

Hi obseq, it is a huge CBD apartment complex, much like a hotel at ground level, the linkway is a public thoroughfare. I am mostly worried about the work just being decoration.

[anne (bxl)]

Hi Araich
exciting project, I guess. I have no sculpture to submit to you.
But looking at numerous human twins around me and how they could look similar, I noticed that one of them looks always more "powerfull" than the other one, small differencies that would make unbalanced twin portraits... So to say the danger of mirror twin sculptures ( and this is also the risk of a decorative result, like clones of each other)

To get well balanced result, you will probably have to create two different pieces responding to each other (not fighting to each other by some opposition) creating a unique tension with the feeling of one unique piece. So not twin pieces but a piece in two parts. Well, I know this is theory...

In practice, don't forget that from the side view, one will be seen on his left side and the other on his right side.
Good luck!

[sculptor]

re:
"I am mostly worried about the work just being decoration."

No offence intended mate, but I think that that is a damned silly thing to worry about>

No mater what you do (aside from the aforementioned "can of shit"), some folks will view it as decoration-----and your commissioners probably see it as archetectural ornament.

As long as you love what you created when you're done, the people who really matter will love it to.

rod

[Araich]

Fair enough Rod, but the point I am alluding to is that by making near identicle or similar works, the realm of mere decoration becomes that little bit closer. Conversley a door opens to inter-relationships between sculptures that I've not had the pleasure of seeing in my own work, yet.

[sculptor]

OK

Much of my early training was in architecture and habitat design:

One of the best things about non-figurative sculpture, is that it can more readily morph into shapes that surround and engulf the observer, thus blending the enclosure aspect of architecture with art.

with a 2-part sculpture through which people must pass, your potential for creating an artistic environment has increased exponentially. And, by having the observer 'captured' between the pieces the observer more readily becomes part of (one with) the art.

Rather than a crafty pairing, like mirror image lions flanking an entryway, I think an inter-reactive complimentary coupling of the shapes and colors that unifies and encapsulates the intervening space would be more in keeping with the art.
I'm thinking of something(s) that could feel as though they were reacting to complimentary and countervailing force fields. (via everything from contrasting and/or complimentary color schemas, to shared or reactive contours.)---maybe think of the 2 pieces as just two visible parts of a very large (and mostly unseen)gestalten
and, as the people will be in motion when encountering the art, the concept of flowing forces of motion and light follows naturally

does that make sense?

rod

[Araich]

Dear Rod, that makes absolute sense. I especially take interest in the notion of motion... I had the feeling today that I could make sense of a prior, rather static work buy introducing the sense that it is being swept in one direction. The pairing work could reinforce this, but also have reactive/complimentary differences.
I do like the notion of twins, and like the idea messing with a mirror image, but I also heartily agree that the opportunity to work with the inter-relationships is just too good to ignore.
I suspect that I will try to do both.

Any and all examples most welcome (please).

[obseq]

Araich,

Did you actually recieve the commission or are you considering it?

From what you and Rod discussed below, it seems that the next consideration is how you actually feel about these buildings.

--Can they provide a suitable 'container' for your work, as Rod mentioned, augmenting the the effect of the space?

I'm curious the see the buildings? Do you have any images?

[Araich]

Hi obseq, the commission is in it's final stages and I am working on a preliminary maquette today for council approval (local gov art content laws).
As for the space, so far I have only seen the model and an artists impression of the space. Although it is near completion and I can visit if I want. It looks glorious. 11m ceiling, 8m width, white and black marble with stainless steel columns and loads of glass. One end opens onto a park and then the harbor, the other a busy city street.

But it is early days, with the install date later in the year. Right now I just need to settle on some maquettes to present...

[JAZ]

Congratulations Araich.
JAZ

[obseq]

Araich,

The building sounds less obtrusive than I originally imagined--For an apartment building much less!


I think the fact that your work will be placed in a linkway should provide for less worry about decoration, (at least in my opinion). It seems like a much more segmented space where people that walk through should be able to divorce themselves from the notion of 'going to an apartment building,' especially moreso if the spectators cannot see the building from the linkway.
I would probably see the distinction between two spaces walking through, but again, this is only from the description you gave.

Let me add my congratulations as well. I look forward to seeing your progress.

[ironman]

Hi Araich, congratulations! After reading this thread, I'm curious as to what the piece(s) will look like. Looking forward to pictures of the maquette/finished piece, and I'm sure you'll be up to the challenge of filling that space in a meaningful way, not just as decoration for the architecture.
Have a great day,
Jeff

[Araich]

Thanks everyone, but remember that it is still to be approved :)

I've made the first maquette (not yet fully welded up and painted) and decided on a path to take...

My first idea was the use of a dramatic directional sweep in the paired works. Both would lean in the same direction, in parallel, my thinking being that they will drag the foot traffic along, and have a potent sense of looming above you, but not over you.
I wanted them to be celebratory, lyrical but serious. I've found this in the thread of an earlier work, a composition that allowed for reworking.
I'm proposing a twin to the first maquette below, a mirror image, but with it's own 'posture'. One will contain the cylinder, a reference to a drum, the other 3 rods, or strings. I've yet to make the strings, so there is a chance it wont work.

I am thinking black and white for colours, or black and red, given in boarders Chinatown.

[ironman]

Hi Araich, Nice maquette, how big is it? How big will the finished pieces be? It has your usual fluidity and grace with great movement to it. Should look good big, hope the assigned space doesn't crowd it too much.
Have a great day,
Jeff

[Araich]

weeks later...

I have developed serious doubts about the maquette that I presented, and with a site meeting this morning, I have worked almost around the clock the last two days to make this (below).

It may be more appropriate to the site as it is strong in the round, with radical change in rotation.

It is around 1m and rusted, and I plan to take it into the meeting with me.

Opinions? I am thinking it should be around 3m tall, on a 1m base. Two, mirrored, but with distinct cuts.

[JAZ]

Both this and your previous maquette have interesting properties. Nice movement, good curves. I wonder though whether your client is looking for classic Robert Hague? The first maquestte looks like an extension of the body of work you have been building on for some tiem, yet has its own innovations. The new piece looks like the beginning of another direction. It will be interesting to see what happens. Are you intending to show both?
JAZ

[sculptor]

OK
For the expanded size-----#2 light and airy
negative space to cast shadows?

thinking of your imbalanced wall pieces-----the imbalance can draw the eye to it's eccentric tangent----(or another sculpture)

but-----there comes a time when the conceptualizing needs to bring forth a finished product.

rod

[anne (bxl)]

Sorry Robert, I am less positive than usual for this work. it seems to me too "crowded" too many forms and informations, not easy to "read", especially in twins. Is it because you made stripped plans instead of solid surfaces?

[Araich]

LOL, I wish I knew what a classic Robert Hague was!

Thanks all, esp Anne. I understand what you're saying about the crowded look. I have reservations myself. My feeling is that at scale it will be less of an issue.

The meeting went well, but I honestly have no idea where this will end. I suspect it will journey into a third work, perhaps more in keeping with the body of my past sculpture.

They have seen both.