THE physical devastation caused to London’s East End during the Second World War is one of Phyllida Barlow’s earliest childhood memories.

And as she developed into a renowned sculptor, these earliest memories would become one of her principle inspirations.

Works by Phyllida have just gone on display in the welcome area of Colchester’s Firstsite gallery.

They’ve been chosen to lead the reopening of the arts facility following its months long closure during the UK-wide lockdown.

The gallery says there are many parallels to be drawn between the works and the deconstruction of contemporary society and subsequent repair and recovery needed to our collective mental health in the face of coronavirus.

Firstsite director Sally Shaw said: “These beautiful works instantly encourage contemplation, their size is both confrontational but also reassuring, and as you weave between these huge structures, staring up at them, it produces an almost meditative effect.

“As we welcome our visitors back to Firstsite we want to provide as many opportunities as possible for everyone to become lost in art and their imagination and Phyllida Barlow’s work embodies this perfectly.

“These arresting sculptures lead our reopening programme which includes an empowering exhibition curated by Afro-Futures_UK, beautiful local art from artist Sonia Coode-Adams and the Colchester and Ipswich art societies, and culminates at the back of our building with the uplifting Tell Me the Story of all These Things exhibition.

“Our whole programme responds to the feedback we have received from our community throughout the lockdown and is designed to help everyone really take time to find comfort in creativity, and feel part of their community again, connecting with others through this shared experience of art, reflection and inspiration.”

Gazette:

Phyllida has been a sculptor for more than 50 years, primarily creating imposing installations which are described as both menacing and playful.

Her pieces are made from low-grade, inexpensive materials such as cardboard, fabric and plywood.

She takes the ordinary and transforms it into the extraordinary, composing what she describes as “a kind of still life” using every day materials.

The artworks in the Firstsite display are drawn from exhibitions made for The Fruitmarket Gallery in Edinburgh and the British Pavilion at the Venice Biennale over the past five years.

They have been brought together to coincide with Firstsite’s new exhibition Tell Me the Story of all These Things which has been curated by radical women of Colchester.

Gazette:

As an aspiring female artist 50 years ago, Phyllida knows a bit herself about being a radical woman.

Speaking about the start of her art education at the Slade School of Art, when she was 19, she said: “A male tutor, a successful artist at the time, came to me and said ‘I won’t be talking to you very much, because by the time you’re 30 you will be having babies and making jam.’ I just managed to say ‘What’s wrong with that?’. Of course, he couldn’t answer that.

“But that was the sort of chilling reminder this was a male domain and girls were privileged to be allowed into it.”

Phyllida has also had a long career as a fine art teacher, including Professor of Fine Art and Director of Undergraduate Studies at the Slade until 2009, and the Chelsea College of Art and Design before.

She was made a Royal Academician in 2011 and a CBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours in 2015.

Visit firstsite.uk to find out more.