Dimensions: object: 1913 x 412 x 241 mm
Copyright: © William Turnbull. All Rights Reserved, DACS 2014 | CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Curator: William Turnbull's sculpture, "Queen," presents a compelling study in form. The patinated bronze creates a striking verticality. Editor: My first thought is that it reminds me of an ancient obelisk, something from a lost civilization, promising mystery. Curator: Note the interplay between the smooth, curved apex and the rectilinear base. The geometric incisions add another layer. Editor: Those incisions could represent social strata, perhaps? Or even a royal lineage etched into the queen's very being. Curator: An interesting interpretation. I’m more drawn to the tension between the sculpture's mass and its subtle surface modulation. Editor: It's potent, a powerful symbol of female authority, even without explicit representational features. A timeless icon, really. Curator: The artist makes expert use of line and shape. It is a refined composition. Editor: Seeing it this way definitely enhances my appreciation. It’s more than just an object. Curator: Indeed.
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This sculpture, standing upright with its impassive surface, looks at first like an object of worship from an ancient culture. It is part of a series of severely minimal ‘Idol’ sculptures of the human form which Turnbull made over the course of several years. Here the form is simplified to resemble a leaf or phallic shape, and breasts and genitals are suggested by formalised geometric incisions into the smooth surface of the work. Gallery label, August 2004
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