ArticleTen

British sculptor and artist, Hugo Farmer presents his debut London exhibition ArticleTEN. Respected and admired by his peers – Farmer has commissioned work for, and with, some of the UK’s most acclaimed, applauded and iconic artists of the last two decades.

This politically driven show centres on life-size imperious figures cast in bronze by Wolf & Stone, acclaimed family run foundry specializing in bronze fine art sculpture with works produced for other British Artists such as Anish Kapoor, Jake & Dinos Chapman, Anthony Gormley to name but a few.

The sculptures depict – the priest, the sergeant, the politician, and the youth – all of which have something to shout about through their megaphone-sculpted heads. These figures are of, and about us now. Our moments made eternal in bronze, in keeping with sculpture’s great tradition. They are a mark of respect for, and appreciation of, the esoteric symbolism that makes silence sing in the greatest eternal bronze.

Farmer embarked on a journey to create his take on figures of authority. His artworks have a majesty that suggests a sculpture from another time with a reverence once reserved for monuments to politicians, war heroes and royalty. Riven with the artist’s blood, sweat – and tears born more from fury than pain, his artworks shout to everyone. This is an expression of Hugo’s long struggle to free himself from a cacophony of conflicting inner voices – one that’s lasted for many years and isn’t ending any time soon.

Farmer says “ArticleTEN takes its title from the section of the European Convention on human rights that provides the right to freedom of expression. This is not my message it’s everyones’.”

Farmer is creating a major art installation that engages with the visiting public. Visitors are encouraged to climb onto a soap box and express themselves freely inside a reproduction of Hyde Park’s Speakers’ Corner. A Twitter debate (via the #a10debate hashtag) invites the globe to air their thoughts with spits, smiles, scream or prayer.

Farmer says, “I have cast a bronze collection that literally shouts its head off – the megaphone amplifies your voice and evokes the public’s passion for unspoken subjects, whether avoided at dinner parties or sensitive issues amongst modern politics – this is about the freedom to hold and express those opinions.”

Farmer has expanded his repertoire formed of his newly-found freedoms with a collection of vivid multi-layered paintings and limited edition prints. Expect to see an installation of several broken TV sets broadcasting short films. All presented to further provoke the fundamental ethos of ArticleTEN – the right to include the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas.

Hugo Farmer, ArticleTEN: A fusion of contemporary and non-conformist observational twists, mixing absolute craftsmanship with the artist’s vision of liberty.