GF Watts Physical Energy in Kensington Gardens
George Frederick Watts Physical Energy in Kensington Gardens
I like the way GF Watts’ rampant Physical Energy seems to wave at the gilded statue of Prince Albert. Wikipedia reports that ” the 1902 large bronze statue Physical Energy, depicts a naked man on horseback shielding his eyes from the sun as he looks ahead of him. It was originally intended to be dedicated to Muhammad, Attila, Tamerlane and Genghis Khan, thought by Watts to epitomise the raw energetic will to power.” Prince Albert was an active spirit but, luckily, not on this scale.
This year the Serpentine gallery pavilion by Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa is very ephemeral…[http://www.serpentinegallery.org/2009/02/serpentine_gallery_pavilion_20_10.html] almost the opposite of GF Watts very physical, grounded and highly charged ‘Physical Energy’.
There is something very human-like about the type of energy portrayed in ‘Physical Energy’ and yet something very nature-like about the fluid yet contained energy of the Pavilion (a name or title would seem to be quite appropriate here too…)
It is interesting to consider this difference…
Comment by Christine — June 17, 2009 @ 11:38 pm
The air view of the Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa pavilion looks like a 1920s painting or, as you suggest, like a natural form. I will go and have a look!
Comment by Tom Turner — June 20, 2009 @ 6:22 am
Some thing that might be interesting to think about on your visit;
1) The Serpentine Galleries announces they are commissioning Sanaa to design the serpentine gallery for 2009 [http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/blogon/art_news/kazuyo_sejima_and_ryue_nishizawa_of_sanaa_to_design_2009_serpentine_gallery_pavilion/5403]
2) The architects talk…. [http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20080106x1.html]
3) The model of the design![http://artabase.net/exhibition/1525-serpentine-gallery-pavilion-09]
Look forward to your comments!
Comment by Christine — June 21, 2009 @ 1:17 am