Mahnmal (Memorial)
Date made: 1998
Artist: Sandle, Michael
Description: Mahnmal by Michael Sandle RA was intended as a Dresden memorial. A former student approached Sandle to ask if he would contribute a piece to help raise money to rebuild the famous Frauenkirche. "As an English person having a twinge of guilt" he readily agreed, but although he made the piece it was never used for its intended purpose as the proposal was abandoned.
The memorial is cruciform, with a stacked Brancusian column - an unintentional reference - a cross-beam depicting the flaming wings of a bomber aircraft and a "head" or "cockpit" like the seed-pod of a poppy. Sandle draws attention to its suggestion of a menorah, the Jewish candlestick, of "ecclesiastical furniture" and "because it is waisted in the middle, of an insect or pupa". The piece is identifiably Sandlesque but atypical.
Source: John Mcewen's publication "The Sculpture of Michael Sandle" p. 103.
Michael Sandle studied at the Douglas School of Art and Technology from 1951 to 1954. He left the Isle of Man in 1954, serving two years' National Service in the Royal Artillery, during which time he was also able to attend evening classes at Chester College of Art. Sandle later studied printmaking at the Slade School of Fine Art, London for three years followed by a period travelling in Europe.
Since the 1960s Sandle has taught in various art schools and universities in Britain, Canada and Germany and from 1980 was the Professor of Sculpture at the Akademie der Bildenden Kunste, Karlsruhe, Germany. He has now retired from teaching and lives in England.
Michael Sandle was elected to the Royal Academy in 1989 but resigned in 1998 (with other Royal Academicians) in protest against the controversial ‘Sensation’ exhibition. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of British Sculptors in 1994 and was re-elected to the Royal Academy in 2004.
#imuseumsculpture
Measurements: overall: 147 x 100 cm
Materials: metal: copper alloy, bronze
Object name: Sculpture
Collection: Art Collection
ID number: 1998-0187
Subject tags : #artgallerywall
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