Tim Shaw (Sculptor)
Encyclopedia
Tim Shaw is a Belfast
-born sculptor and contemporary visual artist working in the United Kingdom
.
in Enniskillen
. In 1984 he moved to England to continue his studies, first with an art foundation course at Manchester Polytechnic and then, from 1985 to 1989, a BA (Hons) Fine Art degree at Falmouth School of Art. Shaw returned to Cornwall two years after graduating and has since continued to use the area as a base in between periods of working in London and abroad.
in 2004, prompting either “love or hate” reactions from visitors. Colin Reid, communications officer at the cathedral, commented that the sculptures were challenging to traditional religious concepts, both in their appearance and in the material used for their construction (notably the use of concrete).
From 2000 to 2004, Shaw was also working on a commission from The Eden Project for an installation that would span the entire vine exhibit in the Mediterranean Biome. The resulting work, entitled The Rites of Dionysus, is sculpted in copper and draws on the cult of Dionysus
and his followers the Maenads for inspiration. An attack of phylloxera
that hit the vines in 2002 led to Shaw also sculpting copper vine forms for the space, which the newly planted vines were then grafted onto and would later grow into the shape of.
One of the figures originally intended for this installation was held back at the time due to concerns that it would be found too controversial. These fears were seen to have some foundations when Shaw’s 2007 version of the figure, a three metre high, “naked, portly, and proudly erect” rendering of Silenus
, was attacked during its exhibition in a Vyner Street gallery in London’s East End by a man wielding an iron bar, shouting “You’re worshiping the wrong God!” The work was purchased by notable art collector, David Roberts
.
The influence of myth, seen in Shaw’s early work, is once again present in his 2008 sculpture, Minotaur, a piece that was commissioned to mark the opening of Harrison Birtwistle's
Opera, The Minotaur
. After this, however, the more political side to his work becomes increasingly evident with a number of sculptures responding to issues such as terrorism
and the war in Iraq. At this time Shaw was working in London as a Fellow sculptor at the Kenneth Armitage
Foundation. The main works he produced during this 2006 to 2008 residency were Man on Fire: What God of Love Inspires Such Hate in the Hearts of Men, Tank on Fire (awarded the selectors’ choice Threadneedle prize in 2008), and the multi-sensory installation Casting a Dark Democracy – Shaw’s haunting response to the now infamous image of the Abu Ghraib
prisoner, described as "one of too few works to engage unequivocally with the reality and human cost of the Iraq war."
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
-born sculptor and contemporary visual artist working in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Early life and education
Tim Shaw was first introduced to sculpture during his years at the Portora SchoolPortora Royal School
Portora Royal School for boys, and some 6th form girls, located in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, is one of a number of 'free schools' founded by Royal Charter in 1608, by James I...
in Enniskillen
Enniskillen
Enniskillen is a town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is located almost exactly in the centre of the county between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of 13,599 in the 2001 Census...
. In 1984 he moved to England to continue his studies, first with an art foundation course at Manchester Polytechnic and then, from 1985 to 1989, a BA (Hons) Fine Art degree at Falmouth School of Art. Shaw returned to Cornwall two years after graduating and has since continued to use the area as a base in between periods of working in London and abroad.
Major works
It was during his time at art school that Tim Shaw began work on Middle World, a complex sculpture that would continue to develop over the next twenty years. In 2009 the work was shortlisted for Threadneedle Prize. Larger versions of two of the figures in Middle World, Angel and Drummer of Light, were exhibited in Truro CathedralTruro Cathedral
The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Truro is an Anglican cathedral located in the city of Truro, Cornwall, in the United Kingdom. It was built in the Gothic Revival architectural style fashionable during much of the nineteenth century, and is one of only three cathedrals in the United Kingdom...
in 2004, prompting either “love or hate” reactions from visitors. Colin Reid, communications officer at the cathedral, commented that the sculptures were challenging to traditional religious concepts, both in their appearance and in the material used for their construction (notably the use of concrete).
From 2000 to 2004, Shaw was also working on a commission from The Eden Project for an installation that would span the entire vine exhibit in the Mediterranean Biome. The resulting work, entitled The Rites of Dionysus, is sculpted in copper and draws on the cult of Dionysus
Dionysus
Dionysus was the god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, of ritual madness and ecstasy in Greek mythology. His name in Linear B tablets shows he was worshipped from c. 1500—1100 BC by Mycenean Greeks: other traces of Dionysian-type cult have been found in ancient Minoan Crete...
and his followers the Maenads for inspiration. An attack of phylloxera
Phylloxera
Grape phylloxera ; originally described in France as Phylloxera vastatrix; equated to the previously described Daktulosphaira vitifoliae, Phylloxera vitifoliae; commonly just called phylloxera is a pest of commercial grapevines worldwide, originally native to eastern North America...
that hit the vines in 2002 led to Shaw also sculpting copper vine forms for the space, which the newly planted vines were then grafted onto and would later grow into the shape of.
One of the figures originally intended for this installation was held back at the time due to concerns that it would be found too controversial. These fears were seen to have some foundations when Shaw’s 2007 version of the figure, a three metre high, “naked, portly, and proudly erect” rendering of Silenus
Silenus
In Greek mythology, Silenus was a companion and tutor to the wine god Dionysus.-Evolution of the character:The original Silenus resembled a folklore man of the forest with the ears of a horse and sometimes also the tail and legs of a horse...
, was attacked during its exhibition in a Vyner Street gallery in London’s East End by a man wielding an iron bar, shouting “You’re worshiping the wrong God!” The work was purchased by notable art collector, David Roberts
David Roberts
-Politics:* David Roberts , mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S. American Entrepreneur-Sports:* Dave Roberts , college football coach in the United States...
.
The influence of myth, seen in Shaw’s early work, is once again present in his 2008 sculpture, Minotaur, a piece that was commissioned to mark the opening of Harrison Birtwistle's
Harrison Birtwistle
Sir Harrison Paul Birtwistle CH is a British contemporary composer.-Life:Birtwistle was born in Accrington, a mill town in Lancashire some 20 miles north of Manchester. His interest in music was encouraged by his mother, who bought him a clarinet when he was seven, and arranged for him to have...
Opera, The Minotaur
The Minotaur (opera)
The Minotaur is an opera in two acts, with 13 scenes by English composer Harrison Birtwistle to a libretto by poet David Harsent, commissioned by the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in London. The work premiered at the Royal Opera House on April 15, 2008 and was shown on BBC2 television on June 7,...
. After this, however, the more political side to his work becomes increasingly evident with a number of sculptures responding to issues such as terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
and the war in Iraq. At this time Shaw was working in London as a Fellow sculptor at the Kenneth Armitage
Kenneth Armitage
William Kenneth Armitage CBE was a British sculptor known for his semiabstract bronzes.-Biography:...
Foundation. The main works he produced during this 2006 to 2008 residency were Man on Fire: What God of Love Inspires Such Hate in the Hearts of Men, Tank on Fire (awarded the selectors’ choice Threadneedle prize in 2008), and the multi-sensory installation Casting a Dark Democracy – Shaw’s haunting response to the now infamous image of the Abu Ghraib
Abu Ghraib
The city of Abu Ghraib in the Baghdad Governorate of Iraq is located just west of Baghdad's city center, or northwest of Baghdad International Airport. It has a population of 189,000. The old road to Jordan passes through Abu Ghraib...
prisoner, described as "one of too few works to engage unequivocally with the reality and human cost of the Iraq war."
Public and private commissions
- Drummer (2009–11), Lemon Quay, Truro, Cornwall.
- The Minotaur (2008), The Royal Opera House, Bow Street, London.
- Seamus Heaney Portrait Bust (2005), Private Collection.
- Rites of Dionysus (2000-4), The Eden Project, Cornwall.
Awards and prizes
- Threadneedle Prize Shortlist (2009), Mall Galleries
- FBA Selectors’ Choice Prize: Threadneedle Prize (2008), Mall Galleries
- Kenneth Armitage Sculpture Fellowship (2006)
- The Mullan Prize (2005), Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition
- Prince of Wales Bursary (2005), The British School at Athens
- Millfield Summer Open Exhibition (2003), - First Prize
- Discerning Eye (1997), Mall Galleries – Prize Winner
- Delfina Studio Trust Award (1996)