Description
Making shapes…
Yes, Brian Willsher was a master at that, as demonstrated beautifully in these majestic teak sculptures.
But In 1968, the Uk Customs and Excise declared Willsher’s self-described “doodles in wood” as ‘non-sculpture’ and ‘household decoration’, and thus slapped a 40% tax on the sales of his work.
Sir Henry Moore vehemently disagreed, and in defence of Willsher declared it “Pure sculpture, indeed… more than that, memorable sculpture!”
The ruling sparked a national debate and raised the question ‘What is art?’, fuelled in part by Willsher’s method of using a bandsaw to create his work, and compounded by his lack of formal training.
Although this decision was eventually reversed, the incident left him bankrupt, and a disillusioned Brian Willsher turned his back on the art market and didn’t exhibit again until the 1990s.
During this time he still created his sculptures from his home in Catford, South London, and for many years sold works (of varying quality) from stalls in Covent Garden and Hampstead.
But his art was always admired by those in the know, and along with that of his great East London contemporary, Ron Hitchins, has steadily increased in popularity since their deaths in the last decade.
My Father once affectionately referred to it as “Geezer Art”, and these accessible forms of sculpture, produced by working men in cellars and sheds with a desire to express themselves against the backdrop of an increasingly permissive 1960s London, are now being appreciated and enjoyed by many more than just ‘geezers’.
This elegant wave form duo are sculpted from teak and stand on mahogany bases.
Originally acquired from a friend of the artist, I believe they were intended as a single work of art, but in two parts.
sculpture 1: total H37cm x W13.5cm (base 14cm x 10cm x 2cm
Sculpture 2: total H35cm x W13cm (base 13.5cm x 9.5cm x 2cm)
Excellent condition. Price is for both.
Free Uk delivery by Royal Mail Special Delivery, or please feel free to contact me for an international delivery quote.
