Gormley/Lehmbruck

Gormley/Lehmbruck Synopsis

Internationally renowned as one of the most significant and influential sculptors working today, Gormley has long expressed his admiration and interest in the works of German sculptor Wilhelm Lehmbruck for their inwardness, sense of poise and calm, and their reflexive potential. Calling on the Body has been conceived as a dialog between the two artists, showcasing key works created almost a century apart. It includes a selection of works spanning the breadth of Gormley's practice: from his seminal early lead works, to Drift VI, a seemingly weightless bundle of nothing, abandoning mass and dissolving surface, and his more recent Slabwork series that despite its abstraction conveys a sense of vulnerability and exposure. This richly illustrated catalogue illuminates Gormley's working process and his models. A conversation with the artist offers insights into his way of thinking and working as well as the value of sculpture in our society.