Wednesday 21st October Trip To YSP and Hepworth Gallery

On Wednesday 21^st October we visited the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and the Hepworth Gallery to explore the exhibitions and works of Anthony Caro. By exploring galleries, it allowed us to visualise and collect inspiration to start our new project which is based around the work of Sir Anthony Caro and his 3D sculptures.

Firstly we went to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park to explore the Anthony Caro exhibition at the Longside Gallery. Once we arrived at the gallery, we were given a set of tasks which was to explore and draw pieces of Anthony Caro’s work. We collected our sketchbooks and created a range of drawings that observed different pieces in the gallery. The drawings also explored different uses of materials that reflected the individuality of each different piece of work that was on display. We observed Caro’s pieces inside and outside of the gallery at different angles and perspectives. The display of different pieces viewed at different angles made the pieces more interesting as more detail and hidden designs were discovered as you walked around. The display of work also changed how I viewed different pieces as I believed it helped to figure out the meaning behind the pieces and how it related to what material Caro used. In the exhibition Caro used a lot of materials that related to industrial factories and products. Some of the pieces relating to industry were displayed on plinths which helped me to view the piece better as I believed they related to construction sites and factories that the material was made in. However, some pieces were displayed on the floor which made me view them as organic as the materials used are natural. It was important to walk around the pieces as it have you different elements of the piece at different angles. After exploring Yorkshire Sculpture Park, we visited the Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield to explore further Caro pieces. We repeated the task previously and used dry materials to draw different Caro pieces in the gallery. Throughout the trip we took a variety of photos that will be used for sketchbook work and research throughout the project. The pieces in the Hepworth Gallery were similar to the exhibition as it represented materials used and the background behind them such as industrial factories and natural sources. However, the gallery was different as the Caro Pieces were placed in a variety of rooms that also had other artists work. I thought this was effective as it allowed me to identify the Caro pieces which made them eye-catching compared to other pieces created by different artists. Finally I felt the gallery was different compared to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park because I believed I had more space to explore the pieces at different perspectives and angles.

Overall, I found Anthony Caro’s work in both galleries interesting as all the pieces expressed individuality and similarities with what materials were used. I found some pieces fascinating as hidden details and layouts were presented at different perspectives as you walked around. My favourite piece was the “Childs Tower Room” as the whole layout related to the material used in the design. I also like the piece because it was a piece of art that can be explored by climbing physically. The trip gave me inspiration that will be taken throughout my product with evidence in my sketchbook and photographs taken from the day being used for the project.