by Sophie Skarbek

Contemporary Art Society of Victoria Inc.

Richmond Library Exhibition Space

December 2004 - January 2005

Located at the Richmond Library

415 Church Street, Richmond, Melbourne

Evelyn Young

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Helen by Evelyn Young

wire & plaster of paris, 33 x 37 x 12 cm

The artist Evelyn Young had displayed four sculptural works ranging from clay to plaster to mixed media. I really found this an interesting exhibition as sculptures displayed in the case can be viewed from several angles and dimensions. Viewed from the front of the display, they also simultaneously offer the back view reflected in the display case's mirrored back wall. Hence you are looking at more than four individual works at once. This phenomenon is alas completely lost when artists display 2D paintings.

"Carmen" is an elongated slim female figure dancing to a Spanish tune in her Spanish dress. Not unlike the 'Carmen' from the opera of that name. This work is executed in parchment coloured clay and so is different from the other three works in white. Its surface is unpolished and highly textured.

"Torso 1." This is a sculpture of a male torso emerging from a rectangular stone. The interesting feature here is how Evelyn had used two different surfaces. The torso looks marble-like, smooth, shiny and highly polished, emerging from a rough stone-like base - as if a human figure emerging from a turbulent sea.

"Working Your Way Through A Book Until You Get On Top of it." This work has humour but also sadness. The sculpture is a three tiered open book, interlaced with human figures. The lowest level shows a bust of a man coming through and resting on pages of a book. It seems to have taken him a lot of effort and hard work. Mid level, the person appears to be struggling with the weight of the book cover, weighed down by a reclining female figure.

I think we have all experienced 'getting through' a difficult, seemingly endless book. Allegorically, this could also be human beings 'getting through' life, both the effort and the mastering of it.

"Helen." This figure of a woman is abstracted and forms a beautiful arch. This was my favourite piece in the display. I very much liked its elegant shape and it's smooth, clean white surface. The only textured part being formed by the woman's long cascading hair.

This is an interesting display and I strongly urge all CAS members to view it. Looks good!

- Sophie Skarbek

(Extracted from the Contemporary Art Society Newsletter Jan - Feb 2005)