ANDREW LOGAN: THE JOY OF SCULPTURE

Bonington Gallery is delighted to present Andrew Logan The Joy of Sculpture, a solo exhibition spanning 50 years of practice from one of Britain’s most iconic artists. Andrew – sculptor, painter, and jewellery artist – is known for challenging convention, mixing media and playing with artistic values.

The Joy of Sculpture presents a collection of Andrew Logan’s work – from large-scale sculptures, mirror portraits and jewellery, and archive displays from his infamous Alternative Miss World competitions. Including new creations and those never shown before, this exhibition brings together all areas of Logan’s practice in a single place.

Andrew’s artwork reflects his unrelenting, and infectious, passion, joy and energy. Smashed glass and found objects are transformed, becoming flamboyant, colourful and glittering objects, in all shapes and sizes.

Key works within the The Joy of Sculpture include:

• Goldfield, first commissioned by the Whitechapel Gallery in 1976, transforming half of the gallery into a giant wheat field.
• Mirror Portraits, based on Andrew’s family and friends – including visionaries Derek Jarman, Scarlett Cannon, and Duggie Fields. A four-metre-high mirror portrait of Duggie will be displayed to the public for the first time.
• The Arum Lily Record Player sculpture, which Andrew has selected a daily record to be played at various times throughout the day.

Andrew’s work doesn’t offer that much to the would-be catalogue mystifier. If you start saying anything too pretentious about it, it sort of laughs in your face. It’s hard to place, because it doesn’t really quite belong anywhere, guilelessly straddling a number of heavily contested boundaries – such as those between art and craft, between art and decoration, between pop and fine, between the profane and sacred.

Brian Eno

Our Bonington Vitrines will house archive material from Andrew’s celebrated Alternative Miss World competition. The infamous pageant, inspired by the Crufts dog show, was started in 1972 and hosted by Logan – who acts as both host and hostess. Contestants and judges over the years have included David Hockney, Ruby Wax, Leigh Bowery, Grayson Perry, and Zandra Rhodes. 

Accompanying The Joy of Sculpture will be a programme of public events, as well as a commissioned essay by Lynda Morris, curator, writer and Andrew’s acquaintance.

Header image credit: Andrew Logan as Host and Hostess for Alternative Miss World 1973 by Mick Rock.

Exhibition Resources:

• Exhibition pamphlet
• Artwork labels

Curated by Joshua Lockwood-Moran
With support from Tom Godfrey and Brianna Frazier Selph

Joshua would like to extend his special thanks to Andrew Logan, the team at Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture and to Thomas Lockwood-Moran. Other artists featured within the exhibition are: Dick Jewell, Brian Shuel and Jane Thorburn.

Technicians: Harry Freestone, Sam Famula, Sorcha Mayes, Mark Flanagan, Jennifer Savage and Ryan Young.

Lending Institutions: Arts Council Collection, National Portrait Gallery, Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture, De Montfort University Special Collections.

Private Lenders: Piers Atkinson, Marc Balet, Amanda Barrie, Lila Bryan, Michael Davis, Brita Forsstrom, Angelika Grohmann, Maggi Hambling, Lynn Hanke, Emma Kane, Rebecca Hoffberger, Jane Linklater, Daniel Lismore, Richard & Polly Logan, Diane & Peter Logan, Philipa & James Logan, Kate Malone, Anthea Norman-Taylor, Baroness Patricia Rawlings, Zandra Rhodes, Lynn Seymour, Juliana Sissons, Keir Malam & Paddy Whitaker, Janet Slee and those who wish not to be named.

From our Blog