Description
This large and impressive Brian Willsher sculpture is something of an enigma…
He did produce some painted sculptures during his long career, but this striking, skeletal example looks like it may have been overpainted at a later date.
The mystery continues with a strange label and hole on its base, suggesting it was possibly mounted on a plinth at some point, or perhaps part of an exhibition or an art installation?
Ah If only these things could talk!
But a beautiful piece nonetheless, and with his signature and what looks like ‘1979’ still visible on the base.
Height 50cm, Weight 3.95kg
Free and fully insured UK delivery included in the price, or get in touch for an international shipping quote.
Viewings welcome in London SE24.
*Brian Willsher (1930-2010) was a highly regarded 20th Century sculptor from South London, known for his method of using a bandsaw to create his works.
But In 1968, the UK Customs and Excise rejected his art and instead declared it ‘non-sculpture’ and ‘household decoration’, and slapped a 40% tax on his sales.
Artist 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 unorthodox methods, 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.
