Augustus

Bernard Meadows began his career as Henry Moore’s assistant and achieved worldwide recognition during the 1950s and 60s. At the time he held exhibitions in London and New York and even represented Finland at two Venice Biennals. A renowned perfectionist, he made a mere 100 works during his career-but all reflect the artist’s highest standards. His artistic expression is characterised by a “field of geometry”. He portrayed animal characters to express human feelings in particular cocks and crabs. In this way, he brought his own voice to the sculptures distinguishing his works from those of Moore in such forms as mating creatures and armed figures. From the 1970s and 80s onwards his works include more variations of a more sensual approach and drawings with erotic elements.

Augustus is a robotic-like square creature, whose sides are protruding out like stinging prongs. His head is small and axe-like and his autocratic god-like stance has changed to something resembling the form of a killing-machine. The sculpture measures 165 x 107cm.

The sculpture belongs to the Didrichsen Art Museum’s own collection.