Moore, mathematical stringed surfaces and stones with holes

 

Stringed Figure (1938). Bronze and string© The Henry Moore Foundation. Courtesy Arts Council Collection, Southbank Centre, London

Moore at Royal Society and Science Museum

15th March 2012

"The 19th-century mathematical stringed surfaces of Theodore Olivier, and their influence on the work of Henry Moore, is the subject of a forthcoming exhibition to be held at the Royal Society and at the Science Museum's Computer and Mathematics Galleries.  The exhibition is a partnership between the the Royal Society, the Science Museum, the Henry Moore Foundation and the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences which is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary".

“Undoubtedly the source of my stringed figures was the Science Museum. Whilst a student at the Royal College of Art, I became involved in machine art, which in those days had its place in modern art. [...] I was fascinated by the mathematical models I saw there, which had been made to illustrate the difference of the form that is half-way between a square and a circle. One model had a square stone end with twenty holes along each side making eighty holes in all. Through these holes strings were threaded and led to a circle with the same number of holes at the other end. A plane interposed through the middle shows the form that is halfway between a square and a circle. One end could also be twisted to produce forms that would be terribly difficult to draw on a flat surface. It wasn’t the scientific study of these models but the ability to look through the strings as with a bird cage and to see one form within another which excited me".  Henry Moore.

Larger Arch, bronze

It is interesting to see how maths has been an influence on the work of Henry Moore, an artist who never allowed public disdain of his work to stop him from following his vision. Critics described his work as "stones with holes" . I like the carved abstract  works best,  these were also made after studying solid mathematical forms. 

Henry Moore Ideas for Sculpture 1938. Pencil, crayon, watercolour on cream lightweight card

I admire his drawings; they are typical of an artist who works in three dimensions. His use of line and tone show the weight and form beautifully.

 

 

Henry Moore Textiles

"Moore began work on his fabric designs when Ascher, a Czech textile manufacturer, commissioned him, together with Henri Matisse and Jean Cocteau, to design a series of fabric scarves or "squares".  With the accent on bold patterns and colours, the scarves were intended to brighten up post-war wardrobes, but for Moore it was to prove a liberating adventure into a world of colour. As a sculptor of large-scale reclining figures, Moore had been of the opinion that colour was a distraction from the appreciation of form, until he started dabbling with fabrics".                By Richard Moss| 17 November 2009

These designs are simple, linear resists and washes of colour. Just ordinary coloured wax crayon and inks. It is so low tech compared to the digital processes available today. I enjoyed reading his thoughts on colour distracting from the appreciation of form, I have also thought that a few times since September 2011.