Ace of Diamonds III
- Date 2004
- Unveiled 2013
- Material Stainless steel
- Dimensions 700 x 250 cm
© Lynn Chadwick / BONO. Photo: © Ivar Kvaal
«It seems to me that art must be the manifestation of some vital force from the dark, caught by the imagination and translated by the artist's ability and skill.»
Lynn Chadwick
(b. London, United Kingdom, 1914-2003)
Chadwick got his big breakthrough at the Venice Biennale in 1952, where the concept of the exhibition was to show how the artist Henry Moore (1898–1986) had influenced the new generation of sculptors to abandon stone carving in favour of metal and steel in abstract and geometrical styles. Alongside Henry Moore and Kenneth Armitage (1916–2002), Chadwick is seen as one of the foremost sculptors of British modernism. Returning to Venice in 1956, he was the selected artist for the British Pavilion and awarded the Biennale Grand Prix for Sculpture. His background was in architecture, and his metal works combine dramatic shapes with a sophisticated understanding of design. In 2003, Tate Britain exhibited a large retrospective of his works.
Ace of Diamonds III is a large format installation with a sharply defined silhouette, characteristic of Chadwick’s works. It is mobile and moves gracefully despite its size. The construction itself is split in two halves that seem to conjure up endless combinations of geometric effects.
Lynn Chadwick was known for his monumental and mobile sculptures in bronze and steel, showing abstract figures, animals, and geometric forms. He never made preliminary sketches for his sculptures, instead he preferred to improvise when welding the metal. Geometric forms have been one of Chadwick's themes since the 1970's. He was apt to refer to the pyramid or diamond shape as the feminine aspect, while masculinity was represented by the rectangular form.
Guided tours
Experience Ace of Diamonds III and many of the other artworks in the collection with our art mediators. We offer guided tours for private groups all year round.