Art Beat

Fascination with human body
Followers of the late artist Henry Moore are in for a treat. The Henry Moore Studios and Gardens in Hertfordshire have put on an expansive exhibition of bronze sculptures created by Moore in his lifetime for viewing. ‘Vitality: The Human Landscapes of Henry Moore’ has over 20 monumental bronzes inspired by natural and human forms and is on show at the grounds surrounding the studios where Moore once worked. The latter’s fascination with human body is visible in these sculptures –mainly multi-part reclining abstract figures that explore the figurative artist’s most iconic themes like, the mother and child, the reclining figure and juxtaposing of internal and external forms. The exhibits are on display till October 29.

Leaving viewer hooked and thinking
Another exhibition of sculptures currently on at the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds is that of American artist Michael E Smith. This is Smith’s first solo exhibition in a UK based institute and features some new works created by the artist especially for the Institute. Objects used in daily life in homes, clothes, furniture, toys and various tools are combined with organic matter to create and design sculptures and works that will leave the viewer hooked and thinking. The exhibition is a mix of the raw combined with a hint of minimalism and assemblage with conceptualism in its object making process. The artist attempts at creating different objects using the above techniques while at the same time laying down the materials used alongside each other. The exhibition is on till June 4, 2023.

Two channel video installation opened
‘Particles’ a new two channel video installation by artists Hanne Nielsen and Birgit Johnsen opens at Ormston House in Limerick, Ireland. In the video, the two artists have transformed themselves to perform as bird-like figures beamed down from some part in the vast universe roaming across Tarkovsky inspired settings such as an abandoned fund park, a declining industrial estate site, burning fields and rocky landscape and overgrown castle ruins. Recipient of many awards, including the lifetime achievement award from the Danish Arts Council in 2021, the two artists have collaborated since 1993 to create some amazing installation art using sound, video and documentary explorations. The exhibition curated by Mary Conlon is supported by Arts Council of Ireland, Danish Arts Foundation and Aarhus Kulturudviklingspulje and opens on April 28.