Up-and-coming British sculptor Tom Price dazzles in this solo show. His astute observations on modern life and his ruminations on the relationship between classical traditions in art and his Jamaican heritage manifest in two bold new statues. The gargantuan ‘Network’ forms the centrepiece. This nine-foot tall bronze giant appears to be searching for mobile phone reception, his self-absorbed expression tempering his threatening stature.
The counterpoint is ‘The Ground You Walk On’, a small-scale composition featuring a woman beating a man with a stiletto. Updating a Renaissance bronze of ‘Samson and the Philistine’ (1550-60), thought to be by Baccio Bandinelli, Price’s uncompromising work could be a scene from any British high street on a Saturday night. The artist shows his skill in capturing the folds in cloth, shoe leather and even the anguished lines in the man’s forehead as his assailant prepares to strike him with her shoe.
Accompanying the statues are a series of photographs of classical sculpture books from the British School at Rome. Acting as both bibliography and cultural reference point, the pictures give an insight into the artist’s creative process. Price’s hands feature in each shot, framing, cropping and juxtaposing different pages, while captions like ‘Taking up Position’, ‘Misdirected’ and ‘No Surprise at Resentment’ show a contemporary worldview at work.
Rob Kidd
Rob, 30, is a project manager, blogger and ice cream maker from Bermondsey. He was selected to write this review as part of the Time Out Takeover – a special edition of the magazine written entirely by our readers.