10th Sculpture 1963

Michael Bolus created this painted sculpture, entitled ‘10th Sculpture’, during a period when British art was engaging with international trends in abstraction and minimalism. Looking at this work, we might consider the public role of art and its relationship to industrial design. The bold colors and clean lines suggest a connection to functional objects, perhaps even the visual language of hazard signs. Consider the social conditions that shaped artistic production in post-war Britain. After the austerity of the war years, there was a drive to modernize and rebuild, and many artists were keen to reflect this sense of progress and innovation in their work. Bolus, who taught sculpture at Saint Martin’s School of Art, was part of a generation of artists interested in the relationship between art and industry. By studying the catalogues of exhibitions from this time, as well as government reports and social surveys, we can understand how artists sought to challenge existing social norms and redefine the role of art in a rapidly changing society.