Dimensions: object: 590 x 455 x 305 mm, 24 kg
Copyright: © The estate of Bernard Meadows | CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Curator: Before us is Bernard Meadows’ bronze sculpture, "Startled Bird," housed within the Tate Collections. Editor: It’s unnerving. The rough texture of the bronze and the bird’s awkward posture evoke a sense of vulnerability and sudden shock. Curator: Indeed. Meadows manipulates form and texture to emphasize the emotional impact. The angular planes and fractured silhouette disrupt any sense of naturalism, creating visual tension. Editor: Birds have always been symbols of freedom, transcendence, and even fragility. Meadows seems to be questioning those associations, revealing anxiety beneath the surface. Curator: The materiality is key. The bronze gives the bird a weight and permanence, contrasting with the fleeting nature of a startled moment. Editor: Considering it, this piece allows us to consider the universal feeling of being caught off guard. Curator: An apt point to end on. Editor: Yes, a striking piece by Meadows.
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This is one of a sequence of sculptures of birds Meadows made in the 1950s. Startled Bird stands upright with its wings outstretched and neck extended. Its pose reveals its own fear while, at the same time, it threatens any predators. Meadows was not interested in depicting animals for their own sake, but rather as vehicles relating to the human figure, and through them an expression of emotion. They carry an emotional charge that is immediately translatable into human terms. Gallery label, February 2010
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