Seated Baboon c. 1989

Editor: Here we have Dame Elisabeth Frink's sculpture, "Seated Baboon," from the Tate collection. I'm struck by the rough texture and how it captures the baboon's form. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Let's consider Frink's process and materials. Notice how the rough, almost brutal application of plaster or similar material speaks to a post-war austerity and a return to fundamental concerns. The very act of shaping, the labor evident in the surface, is key to understanding its power. How might the social context of post-war Britain influenced Frink's choices in making this work? Editor: That's fascinating! I hadn't thought about the material itself carrying so much meaning. Curator: Exactly! It challenges our ideas of refinement, doesn't it? Something to consider.