In galleries and museums around the world, staggering masses of plywood, Phyllida Barlow transformed stacks of fabric, plaster and cardboard into giant whimsical, soft sculptures.
The seasoned educator who turned to her own artistic practice late in life, died on March 12 at the age of 78. Collecting everyday materials, Barlow fashioned “non-monumental” works that defied gravity and forced visitors to consider the architecture around them. In an exclusive interview filmed as part of Art21’s Extended game series in 2021, the artist reflected on the unexpected arc of his career.
“My mother was very creative: knitting, sewing, tailoring,” says the artist, explaining her ad hoc approach to creating dollhouse furniture, which she describes as “the antithesis of the toy store: everything was question of recharging one’s batteries within the company”. House.”
This early exposure to a kind of “necessity as the mother of invention” philosophy is evident in Barlow’s work, which used artistic approaches she learned at home rather than at art school. art.
“There was so much good and bad about techniques, about processes, about forms, even about ideas,” Barlow recalled of his classes. “All sorts of things were taboo, like domestic life or certain trades associated with women, like knitting.” This ultimately informed the way she taught her own students.
Installation view of Phyllida Barlow’s ‘Madness’ at the British Pavilion at the 57th Venice Biennale, Italy, 2017. Courtesy of the artist and Hauser & Wirth. © British Council. Photo: Ruth Clark.
Instead of pushing certain notions of how one should make a work of art, Barlow taught each student to immerse themselves in an idiosyncratic and unique approach, building on what was important and interesting to them. “My teaching was very much about what I felt like I missed in art school,” Barlow said. said.
In her late 60s, Barlow’s art was finally recognized in its own right, and her colorful installations took over the British pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2017. Despite her international fame, Barlow would have been satisfied without the fanfare.
“There are a lot of artists who don’t have exhibitions…a lot of artists endure this all their lives, and it’s heroic,” she said. “The novel that is never published, should it never have been written? Of course, it should be.
“There is this big, powerful desire to just create something. And is it eroding? I hope not.”
Watch the video, which originally appeared as part of Art21’s series extended play, below.
This is an episode of “Art on Video”, a collaboration between Artnet News and Art21 that brings you clips from artists who are making the news. A new season of the flagship series of the Art21 association Art in the 21st century is now available on PBS. Watch all episodes of other series, like New York close up And Extended gameand learn about the organization’s educational programs at Art21.org.
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