Memorial day - 34

I consider for a memorial or public work of art to be successful it must interact with its surroundings and most importantly the general public. Based on that criteria, one of the most successful is the bronze sculpture London Pride standing outside the Royal National Theatre on London's South Bank. Whether its a cold wet winter morning, or warm summer night, rarely do I pass the sculpture and not see someone having their photograph taken with the two figures, or interacting with the work of art.

The bronze sculpture was cast from the plaster original commissioned for the Festival of Britain. Two larger than life-sized women are seated on a plinth with a bowl between them. The plaque is set on the walkway before it reads: "London Pride" Frank Dobson (1886-1963). Commissioned for The Festival Of Britain 1951. Given by Mary Dobson 1987 and placed on the South Bank. Assisted generously by Lynton Property & Reversionary Plc and The Henry Moore Foundation. Arts Council Of Great Britain.

While receiving many prodigious commissions, Frank Dobson was not as well known to the British public as his contemporaries Henry Moore, Jacob Epstein and Barbera Hepworth.

The photograph on the right was taken last Wednesday morning as I walked along the South Bank, and shows the British comedian Sean Lock having his photo taken next to the two, appropriately clad figures. Sean Lock is a frequent guest on the popular TV panel game QI, and won the British Comedy Award in 2000.

Memorial day - 5

This is the fifth in a series of blogs posted each Wednesday dedicated at looking at memorials and public sculptures.

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Abbey Garden adjacent to the Jewel Tower, is one of the most filmed locations in London. It lies across the road from the Houses of Parliament. It is the site TV news crews from around the world set up their cameras to interview Members of Parliament and report on notable British political events. Henry Moore’s sculptor “ Knife Edge” is located in the middle of the well manicured lawns of College Green.

The bronze sculpture was completed in 1962 specifically to be located at its present location. It was presented to the Nation in 1967 by the Contemporary Art Society.

Undoubtedly Moore (1898 - 1986) and Barbara Hepworth (1903 - 1975) were the two leading abstract sculptors in post war Britain. They introduced abstract imagery to the general British public, not in art galleries, but by their sculptors located in public spaces. While the subject of their sculptures wasn’t readily recognisable, the fact they were Moore’s or Hepworth’s work was.

Henry Moore’s bronze sculpture “Reclining Figure” 1969 -70 was stolen from the Henry Moore Foundation at 10.13 pm on Thursday 15 December 2005.It was valued at £3million (US$6m).It could never be sold as a work of art, it is believed the 2.1 tonnes figure was stolen to be broken up and sold for its scrap value for less than £10,000 ($20,000).

Click here to see YesBut’s Image of the day.