These three sculptures fascinated me … then of course various tentacled rabbit holes appeared, let alone my own grey cells with lots of space between, which enjoy taking their time …
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| Sculpture of Oscar Wilde's head in the format adopted by Eduardo Paolozzi, the sculptor |
I came across this posthumous sculpture by Paolozzi of Wilde's head. Did you know these are his names: Oscar Fingal O'Fflahertie Wills Wilde (1854 – 1900) … I laughed and thought oh well … I'd better write them up for this post.
Wilde lived a great deal of his life in Chelsea – hence the positioning of this sculpture – which Sir Eduardo Paolozzi (1924 – 2005) was commissioned to produce … more on him anon in 2025 …
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| On the website there's a short video - hence 'A Flying Visit ... ' |
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| Pangolin Foundry, Stroud, England |
I was pleased to learn that The Foundry has formed the Ruwenzoni foundation in the UK and in Western Uganda furthering the talent to be found …
… expressed on their home page 'The impetus driving the idea was a belief that 'good news also comes out of Africa' where so much talent can flourish if given an environment which allows it''.
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| Students learning in Uganda |
It's worthwhile looking at the Trustees, and the Ugandan directors … rabbit holes with tentacles worth exploring …
Head number two, the Apennine Colossus, has taken millennia to form … but was crafted by the Flemish sculptor Giambologna in the late 1500s …
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| Apennine Colossus (by Giambologna) |
… it is about 36 feet (11 metres) high and is meant as a personification of the Apennine Mountains … more information can be found in the link … it always amazes me at man's creativity.
Last but not least … the mouth of a river … a stack of slate … what to do … but create a hedge (usually a wall in town) in London – that's actually a pictogram of the river Thames as it twists and turns its way through London to the North Sea …
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| Can you envisage the River Thames as it winds its way to the North Sea |
... this artwork is permanent, found in a side street just behind Buckingham Palace … being 'just some stacks of slate' …
I love what we can learn … I've just joined a TED group here … and I was able to bring up two subjects I'd posted about as part of this blogging fraternity … it's a learning environment.
One was about bees keeping elephants at bay in Kenya (2015) … and the other was relative to one of my favourite computers on the market – RaspberryPi (2020 x 2), linked to a robot … which we were discussing at the TED group.
I will try and recalibrate my brain to be more stable and methodical in its approach to humanity outside its own sphere … let me hope!
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| Pangolin Editions - their sculpture |
Pangolin Editions - Foundry
Ruwenzorifoundation in Uganda - supported by Pangolin Foundry
Apennine Colossus - natural/crafted sculpture
Slate Wall - c/o Ian Visits ... Andy Goldsworthy
(PS Lenny is a young lad, who has been extraordinary over his tough young life)
Raspberry Pi x 2 in 2020
first Raspberry Pi second Raspberry Pi used by young engineer
Thanks for bearing with me …
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
23 comments:
Hari Om
I love your eclectic searches and thought warrens, Hilary. Don't work too much on changing that! YAM xx
Those are some really wonderful sculptures. Happy Holidays.
That second statue is just amazing.
Those are some fascinating heads! And what were Oscar's parents thinking? Poor kid.
https://cleemckenziebooks.substack.com/p/the-history-ghost-part-3and
I did not know Oscar Wilde’s full name! Nor had I heard of that Andy Goldsworthy sculpture which I must look out for if and when we return to London. I really like seeing his work.
You dug up some cool sculptures in this post, plus the bonus Oscar's full name. Who knew? I like the dismissive "just a stack of slate" - ha! Oh your cells are churning away and entertaining us too. Thanks!
Love the sculptures - and the meanders your brain takes you (and us). Please don't change.
Wilde's full name is a mouthful! Apennine Colossus is amazing--I've never seen that before.
Interesting they would select the Pangolin - it's not a well-known animal.
I think I like the wall one the best.
Oscar Wilde suffered from his professional reputation in tatters, an inappropriate gaol sentence, meningitis and depression. So it is difficult to tell if his statue in Chelsea is expressing sympathy for his pain OR jumping in on the criticisms he faced during his own lifetime.
The Apennine Colossus is incredible.
I enjoyed reading about the bees and the elephants. At some point in the distant past, elephants must have been terrorised by bees and the collective memory does the rest, or is it simpler than that?
My son and two of my grandsons use RaspberryPi.
Leave open the gateways of your mind, Hilary - there's so much 'out there' still to be discovered.
I did not know Oscar Wilde’s complete name and I am quite envious of it. I was musing the other day about names that used to be seen as a mark of the aristocracy but seem to be little used today. Peregrine was my favourite. A young friend of ours has named her daughter Kestrel, and while I applaud the choice, it doesn’t quite have the cachet of Peregrine, especially when appended to Lord Peregrine Ramsbottom of Black Harbour, or something equally grand. How delicious it is that a statue commemorates Wilde, a man who was so persecuted during his life, simply for being who he was. Thanks for the other interesting thoughts and links here, Hilary. I am always happy to ride on the coattails of your mind. Best wishes - David
Oh, those are interesting! I think I have a photo of myself with a Wilde statue somewhere near Dublin, but it was taken with a "real" camera and the photo's in an album somewhere, ha ha!
@ Yam - thanks ... I do get around and find out a mirage of interesting subjects ... so thanks - I won't work on changing much!
@ Holly - thank you ... good to see you ...
@ Alex - the Colossus is just extraordinary isn't it - I'd love to see it in person - unlikely though ...
@ Lee - yes I know ... it must be the Irish connection?! While the heads are all stunning ...
@ Anabel - quite honestly I didn't know his names - fun to find out and to see everyone commenting happily about them. I'm glad you'll get to see the Andy Goldsworthy sculpture when you get back to London ... I look forward to that report back (whenever it occurs!) ...
@ Joanne - thank you ... I can be a little off piste with some of my thoughts ... so appreciate you acknowledging the entertainment aspect ... yes my cells do churn along strange tentacled routes ...
@ EC - I don't think I can change - I have to draw myself in quite often, when I'm talking to others here in E/b ... the mind a-wanders ...
@ Elizabeth - yes Wilde's full name is a mouthful isn't it ... perhaps that's why we tend not to hear about it. I love the sculptures ... the Paolozzi one needs to be 'inspected' a bit more ... but it was enough for here. The Colossus - I'd never seen, but felt it needed to appear here ... so thank you ...
@ Diane - I suspect the Pangolin was chosen as the Foundry was set up with African connections ... and the Pangolin is protected ... but slow and sure would spring to mind ... I love the name.
@ Liz - the slate wall is particularly special isn't it ...
@ Hels - Paolozzi had a particular way in creating his sculptures and his head ones were done in a special way ...
@ Janice - I agree the Colossus had to appear here. Oh great you went back to read about the elephants and the bees ... as you say that collective memory must be inherent for the order 'Proboscidea' ... nope, I think you're right - just like this ...
That's fascinating to read your son and two grandsons have Raspberry Pi and use them. My mind is constantly open - I really should be more disciplined ... but ... it notes things ...
@ David - I used to go out (very briefly) with a guy called Peregrine ... I'm not sure I'd like to be called Perry if I was a boy/man. Whether I'd have been called Lady Perry is another matter - it never got that far. I think Kestrel is rather fun - we've a new one appearing here any day now - at the moment 'she's' called Ermintrude - hopefully she'll be called something easier when named! You can always hang on my coattails ... I'll happily fly along with you in tow!
@ Deniz - I'm sure there must be many statues of Wilde - but great you remember the one of you in Dublin in front of that statue ... tucked away in an album.
Thanks so much everyone - delighted you enjoyed these somewhat diverse topics ... cheers Hilary
I too am amazed by Man's creativity. Where does that come from?
Loved seeing these sculptures - each so unique and interesting. I admit my favorites are the Appennine one and the one of the Thames, but it's fascinating to see the different subjects and the different styles. Thanks for sharing! I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!
Fascinating artworks Hilary! I was especially intrigued by the Apennine Colossus. Your rabbit holes always lead somewhere interesting.
I would love to see the Apennine Colossus in real life, it must be amazing.
@ Jacqui - yes ... and I've since found more (to me) extraordinary sights ... and as you say where does it come from ... a thoughtful comment re your interest in early man... a subject for a post - I suspect ...
@ Tyrean - your London photos are great reminders of a happy one day stop off here! Yes - different subjects and most definitely different styles - lots to see in this little world of ours ...
@ Debbie - it's a funny old world isn't it ... thank goodness everyone (who's here!) is as interested as I am ...
@ Inger - I agree ... we could meet in Italy and enjoy ourselves while exploring the Colossus ... that's a fun thought ...
Thanks everyone ... great seeing your comments and thoughts ... we're having a blustery time at the moment and no doubt our seafront is being bombarded with strong winds - cheers for now - Hilary
Hope that you have survived the wind and rain over there it sounds terrible. We complain here, but so far our winds do not match yours.
I find Wilde's head a bit odd lying on its side and strapped in around the head! The second carving is amazing, You do though find the most interesting things to write about and I always learn something new. Keep safe, Diane
Uh yeah, I think I'd just go by Oscar Wilde too:) Heh. Lots of fascinating info as always, Hils. Cheers,
Thanks for introducing me to fascinating sculptures, Hilary.
As for Wilde: On entering England asked whether he had anything to declare he replied: ‘Nothing but my genius.’ ;-)
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