John Wallbank

About

Three contemporaneous projects developed with Arcade cover and articulate a spectrum for Wallbank’s strategies. In Untitled (Sewn Cube), presented at Frieze Sculpture, Regents Park, London 2017, the artist redefines the balancing act between solids and voids by assembling a volume from interwoven flat surfaces, which open to the public sphere, exploring the external relations of the sculptural envelope. At Arcade, the artist shifts attention to the inherent qualities of sculptural models by unveiling the dynamics in between sculptural forces and compositions, with a focus on the linkages that weave the structure. From the chaotic nature of raw materials, the artist configures the expressive axis of a large-scale sculptural model by exploring the inner and outer aspects of spatial extensions.  Similarly, the project anticipated for DAMA, Turin, 2017, intends to respond to the existing Baroque architecture by colonizing the space via contrasts and relations among physical objects, as if in a dramatic tension. Moving away from the legacies of space and tradition, John Wallbank’s work becomes a vessel for experimental practices and new modes of positioning sculpture.

John Wallbank (UK, 1976) Graduated from the Slade School of Art in 2004, his piece ‘Untitled (Sewn Cube)’ 2016 was recently part of Frieze Sculpture at Regents Park, London. Arcade will present a new large scale sculptural work in the 18th century Saluzzo Paesana palace for DAMA, Turin from November 1-5.

Other recent exhibitions include ‘Artist Boss’ at New Art Centre, Roche Court, Salisbury, UK celebrating Sir Anthony Caro’s studio assistants and issues of legacy in British sculpture. The accompanying publication is available from Wunderkammer Press. Wallbank worked as studio assistant to Caro from 2005 – 2013.

In 2010 Wallbank was awarded the Mark Tanner Award for sculpture, a publication celebrating the award ‘Thinking is Making’ was published by Black Dog Press in 2013. Wallbank lives and works in London.