Greta Berlin @ Broomhill
Greta Berlin
We have asked the artist to provide a statement about their work, an edited personal history, and a selection of exhibitions and commissions. The content here is entirely their words and selection. Works illustrated here have been chosen by the artist.
The works shown on this page are not necessarily on display at Broomhill.
Some other works by Greta Berlin
The Artist Speaks
“The figure is central to all my work, even when simplified out to the point of abstraction as in the ‘Arch’. This piece also illustrates well the development of a theme over a 20 year span, from the ‘Kiss’ through ‘Space Between’ to the ‘Arch’. Ideas come in response to personal experiences or are informed by wider issues. 'Exile' was triggered by feelings of isolation when far from all I knew and reflections on enforced exile.
“‘Embrace’ is from a desire for unity, understanding and reconciliation amongst troubled people/nations. While the ‘Shoe’ is a joyful celebration of women and their achievements throughout the 20th century and their continued freedom of choice.
“I use several techniques and medium. Each brings it's own challenges, disciplines and excitements. Stone is reflective and, working from the outside in, I have to be able to see what to take away to bring the image forward. I often spend years looking at a piece of stone before discovering what image is waiting to be revealed.
“Steel is fast and dynamic, allowing change and continuous development of an idea. Also I can work very large into the area of light engineering. eg; the 'Shoe' was worked in three sections and I did not see it complete, slotted and bolted together by crane, until it went to it's first siting outside Bridport Arts Centre.
“Plaster has an immediacy that brings a freshness to a surface. Clay seduces me into modelling. On discovering crushed wire mesh I was able to bring humour into my pieces. When working on a commission I make several maquettes and scale up the approved one. With original ideas I go straight into the finished size.”
Background
Born and brought up amongst the cutting edge artists of the time, in St Ives, left an indelible impression. As a young adult I emigrated and travelled extensively, though always digging local clays and exploring images. On returning to England I studied ceramics at Southampton College of Art and went on to teach ceramics in further education for 20 years. It was an excellent little workshop with large and gas kilns which gave me the scope to develop glazes, pots and sculpture. I began to exhibit sculpture in 1974.
In the early 1980s I worked at the British Museum as a copyist. This extreme discipline loosened me up in approach to my own work. During the late 80's I got several commercial commissions including my first really big piece, for which I needed to learn to weld. from 1990 I worked for two years exclusively on stone, in a studio that is now part of Artsway, in the New Forest.
I moved to West Dorset in 1992 and, with my new skills of welding and steel cutting, was able to develop my own ideas and the scale of my work. A new departure came in 1999 when I began to paint and discover the glory of colour. With little formal training, I have learned by osmosis and the help of engineers, craftsmen and fellow artists, and by constant and daily practice and observation.
Selected Exhibitions
2002 Sherborne House, Dorset Arts Week, opened by Sir Anthony Caro
2001 Broomhill Art Hotel, Barnstaple
2001 Arts Club, Falmouth
2000 Broomhill Sculpture Park, Barnstaple
1999 Bridport Arts Centre
1999 Arts Way, New Forest
