Vertical Form (St Ives) c. 1968 - 1969

Curator: This is Dame Barbara Hepworth's "Vertical Form (St Ives)," currently residing in the Tate Collections. I'm immediately struck by its smooth, almost liquid surfaces. Editor: The bronze seems to defy its own density, doesn't it? I'm curious about the implications of placing this object in conversation with the St Ives art scene in the early to mid-20th century. Curator: Absolutely. Hepworth’s process involved direct carving and casting, emphasizing the physical interaction with materials. We see a clear connection to modernist values, yet there's also a deep connection to landscape. Editor: St Ives was a strategic place. It fostered a creative, yet competitive atmosphere. The art world, then as now, shaped her practice and reception. Curator: I think that understanding the material’s properties is crucial here. Bronze allows for the creation of enduring forms, which is a testament to labor and skill. Editor: And to the art market. The choice of bronze elevates the status of the work and ensures its place in museum collections, contributing to the construction of Hepworth’s legacy. Curator: Seeing it this way makes me appreciate the tension between artistic intention and institutional forces even more. Editor: Indeed, an interesting interplay.