Dimensions: object: 1940 x 700 x 750 mm
Copyright: © William Tucker | CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Editor: So, this is William Tucker's sculpture, Guardian IV. It’s quite a substantial piece. I’m struck by its almost primal feel. What do you make of it? Curator: It certainly has a monumental presence, doesn’t it? The texture, almost violently worked, suggests something both ancient and deeply personal. I find myself thinking about the weight of responsibility, perhaps even a struggle with inner demons. What does the word "guardian" evoke in you when you look at this? Editor: That makes me think of a protector, someone steadfast. I didn't initially read all of that in the form itself, but now I see it. Curator: It's funny how a title can shift your perspective. But also, how our own life experiences color what we see. And that, I think, is the magic of art. Editor: Absolutely. It's like the sculpture was waiting for our stories to meet it halfway.
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This is one of a group of four Guardian sculptures Tucker completed in 1983. It is a monolithic structure comprising an upright vertical section supported on a roughly square-shaped foot. This is echoed by a smaller overhanging projection at the top, extending at right angles so that the form may be read, in simplistic terms, as a square bracket. The bronze surface has a crudely modelled texture and is patinated to appear dark brown. It is an unique cast. Bronze maquettes in an edition of six were created in 1984.
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