Nau mai, haere mai, welcome to EyeContact. You are invited to respond to reviews and contribute to discussion by registering to participate.

JH

Impressive Sydow

AA
View Discussion
Carl Sydow, Untitled, c. 1975, ink and acrylic on paper, 520 x 635 mm. Photo: Sam Hartnett Carl Sydow, Untitled, c. 1975, ink and acrylic on paper, 520 x 635 mm. Photo: Sam Hartnett Carl Sydow, Untitled, c.1975, releif print on paper, 350 x 300 mm. Photo: Sam Hartnett Installation of Carl Sydow: Geometries at Bowerbank Ninow. Photo; Sam Hartnett Carl Sydow, Untitled, c. 1975, ink on paper, 520 x 635 mm. Photo: Sam Hartnett Carl Sydow, Untitled, c. 1975, Letrafilm on paper, 790 x 595mm. Photo: Sam Hartnett Installation of Carl Sydow: Geometries at Bowerbank Ninow. Photo; Sam Hartnett Carl Sydow, Untitled, c. 1975, ink and acrylic on paper, 520 x 635 mm. Photo: Sam Hartnett Installation of Carl Sydow: Geometries at Bowerbank Ninow. Photo; Sam Hartnett Installation of Carl Sydow: Geometries at Bowerbank Ninow. Photo; Sam Hartnett Carl Sydow, Untitled, c. 1975, ink on paper, 640 x 905 mm. Photo: Sam Hartnett

Examining the drawings, the main theme seems to be that of overlapping planes or telescopically inserted cylinders of netting. Sydow is fascinated by the shimmering confusion resulting from complex grids optically merging when one is placed over the other. The moiré effect is often used, in the sculptures featuring metal sheets of punched out gridded holes, suspended on steel frames with springs so that they both physically and optically tremble when the moving viewer looks through them.

Auckland

 

Carl Sydow
Geometries


27 February - 21 March 2020

In a show that is rare for Auckland, Bowerbank Ninow present seven framed drawings by the seventies Christchurch sculptor Carl Sydow; a mixture of preparatory geometric studies for three dimensional works, and images planned as final pieces to be enjoyed for their overlapping grid structures and optical effects.

Even though he was a sculptor who made drawings, Sydow’s practice can be seen as related to the paintings of François Morellet in France, Gianfranco Zappettino in Italy, and Al Held and Richard Anuszkiewicz in the States. And Ray Thorburn in Aotearoa. In other words Sydow (1940 -1975) was a typical seventies internationalist in his stylistic and conceptual enthusiasms, commonplace at the time (but rarely seen now)—before geometric abstraction and hard edges got swept aside in the eighties by the gesturally inflected narratives of Neo-Expressionism and the Transavangardia.

Using industrial construction-site materials, Sydow (a contemporary of John Panting and Steven Furlonger ) made several types of constructivist-influenced sculpture that explored overlapping grids, optics, transparency, suspension, chance and viewer movement. All designed for outdoors and an urban space where they interacted with modernist architecture.

Examining these drawings, the main theme seems to be that of overlapping planes or telescopically inserted cylinders of netting. Sydow is fascinated by the shimmering confusion resulting from complex grids optically merging when one is placed over the other. The moiré effect is often used, particularly in the sculptures featuring metal sheets of punched out gridded holes, suspended on steel frames with springs (at the corners) so that they both physically and optically tremble when the moving viewer approaches and looks through them.

Other images seem to be repeated slings for holding suspended forms or coloured rectangular planes, or prisms and house shapes stacked up en masse (sometimes inverted). Most drawings employ the conventions of perspective, though one preparatory drawing is orthogonal.

It would be terrific to someday get a bunch of Sydow‘s unusual sculptures displayed in Auckland. They are extraordinarily individualistic, with their use of transparent Perspex, corrugated iron sheeting, looping garden hose, mesh, and steel armatures. Exciting and radically distinctive.

John Hurrell

Print | Facebook | Twitter | Email

 

Recent Posts by John Hurrell

JH
Jae Hoon Lee, Mother and Child, 2024, inkjet on smooth pearl. 1500 x 1500 mm

Looking Through (or At) Jae Hoon Lee

IVAN ANTHONY GALLERY

Auckland

 

Jae Hoon Lee
Internal Landscape Part II


16 March 2024 -13 April 2024

JH
Outside installation of part of Shiraz Sadikeen's The Natural Rate, at Treadler. Photo: Alex North.

Sadikeen @ Treadler

TREADLER

Auckland


Shiraz Sadikeen
The Natural Rate


8 March 2024 - 23 March 2024

 

JH
Still from Marcus Coates, The Directors: Lucy (2022) Single channel HD video on loop, projection, 21 min, 24 sec--⁠presented at Yellow Brick Road, courtesy of Artangel.

Attempting to Describe the Experience of Psychosis

Te Tuhi /Auckland Arts Festival

5 inner city sites


Marcus Coates
The Directors


24 February - 24 March 2024

JH
Ava Seymour, Manhole, 2023, Maribu solvent screen-printing ink on aluminium, 1120 x 910 mm, unique.

Maternal Appurtenances

COASTAL SIGNS

Auckland

 

Ava Seymour
Heels of Mothers


14 March - 13 April 2024