Tim Shaw RA
Title: The Space Between (Does not happen in a vacuum).
Year: 2024
Media: Hands Modelled in wax and cast into resin
Size: 17 x 35 x 20 cm
About the work: Hands join together in acts of friendship and solidarity. In contrast, it's the finger that pulls the trigger to devastating effect. Hands reach out to unite and the space between acts as a forcefield that prevents connection.
The work refers to the disconnection caused by historic loss and gain of land, political power and freedom.
Bio: Born in Belfast. Lives and works in Cornwall.
Essentially a figurative sculptor whose practice extends across a wide range of materials, mediums and scales including immersive installation, film, robotics and ritual performance.
Exhibited and collected internationally, the work delves into the nature of the human psyche and contains elements that are political, metaphysical and mythological. Themes are ritual and conflict reoccur.
Public commissions include The Rites of Dionysus, Eden Project, The Minotaur, Royal Opera House and The Drummer, Lemon Quay, Truro. Most recently, Man on Fire, which was permanently installed at Imperial War Museum North, has been awarded the 2024 PSSA Marsh Award for Excellence in public Sculpture.
Title: Ritual Burning of Lifting the Curse.
Year: 2022
Media: Giclee print on archival paper.
Size: 42 x 30 cm
About the work: Ritual Burning of Lifting the Curse (photography by Steve Tanner). Edition 1 of 26.
A votive figure, created in response to a curse issued by Gilbert and George, to the Royal Academy and all its members, was ritually burnt in a field where two ley lines intersect. A Pellar Man incantated while showering the form, first with water, then with fire, and a song was sung for all those who flee tyranny and war, referring at that time, to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The image of the ritual burning was used as the cover image for the song The Court by Peter Gabriel from his recent album i/o.