Anthony Caro

In conjunction with the major retrospective of British sculptor Anthony Caro at the Tate Britain (January 15- April 17, 2004), Galerie Daniel Templon presents an exhibition exploring the various aspects of his multi-faceted œuvre : monumental sculptures in rusted steel, constructions in painted metal and small « table top » pieces in bronze.

At 80, Anthony Caro is a pivotal figure in the history of XXth century sculpture. A student of Henry Moore, he caused sensation when he first showed his steel abstract sculpture in the early sixties. He abandoned the traditional way of first modelling in clay and casting in bronze, and began to make purely abstract works: sculpture constructed and welded in steel, comprising beams, girders and other found elements painted in bright colors. His work had a deep influence on many artists of the younger generation such as Richard Serra, Tony Cragg or Barry Flanagan.

The exhibition at Galerie Templon attemps to illustrate the diversity in Anthony Caro’s work since the late seventies. It is organized around three large scale sculptures. « Emma scribble » (1977-1979) made of rusted and painted steel, develops aerial and organic shapes questioning the relationship between the drawn line and three dimensional sculpture. « Barcelona close up » (1987), with its seemingly geometric forms explores the border between architecture and sculpture. Finally « Legend » (1994-2001) a low floor piece of steel beams is an introduction to the notion of « sculpitecture » - a sculpture which the viewer can experience internally.

The smaller space of the gallery is devoted to smaller bronze sculptures, including the « table pieces » which are meant to rest on pedestals. Questionning the notion of « flat » and « balance » they redefine the traditional presention of small scale sculpture as mere objects.

This is the first exhibition of Anthony Caro’s work in France since 1996 and the presention of « Promenade » at the Jardin des Tuileries during the exhibition « One century of British sculpture » at the Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume. His work is included in over 70 public collections around the world. After Tate Britain, IVAM Centre Julio Gonzales in Spain will organize another retrospective (June 2 – september 11, 2005).

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Anthony Caro