Anthony Caro: Artist Boss, New Art Centre, Roche Court

From 19 November Artist Boss is held at the New Art Centre, Roche Court. This exhibition showcases the results of a pioneering creative research project (officially launched in conjunction with the book of the same name) delving into the lives of “traditional” artist assistants – in particular those associated with the prolific Sir Anthony Caro – and their impact on learning and artistic careers.

Initiated by Bath Spa University and Norwich University of the Arts, this display is one of a three-part exhibition, its two counterparts being shown at The Cut, Suffolk and Bath Spa University’s School of Art and Design respectively. It is led by Bath Spa University’s Senior Lecturer in Fine Art, Jenny Dunseath, who was herself a studio assistant to Caro. She is one of many who have been called upon to share their experiences in an effort to provide a unique insight into the world of working with the artist. It is the first and only extended study of the sculptor, a figure who is highly revered by his peers, as well as those such as Dunseath.

When commenting on the project, Dunseath emphasised its unique nature, as well as the rigorous manner in which it was approached: “We set out to provide an intimate and frank interpretation of the artist and ways of working. Research such as this not only opens up access to new work and engages new audiences with sculpture, it also stimulates new possibilities and creating thinking for students, academics, artists, and the public.”

Others such as Stephen Feeke, Director of the New Art Centre, and Tim Marlow, Artistic Director at the Royal Academy of Arts, have also been keen to praise the project. As director of the exhibition’s leading venue, Feeke emphasised the exhibit’s inclusion of “a fascinating aspect of Caro’s enduring legacy: the influence on a younger generation.”

Similarly, Marlow praised Artist Boss’s ability to “reveal the complex and often challenging systems behind the work. [It is] a rare opportunity to gain access to the artist’s thought processes raising important questions on issues such as individuality and authenticity.”

Anthony Caro Artist Boss, 19 November 2016 – 29 January the New Art Centre, Roche Court, Salisbury. For more, visit www.artistboss.org.uk

Credits:
1. Anthony Caro Millbank Steps (2004) Corten Steel 5 x 7.8 x 23 m. Courtesy of Barford studios limited and Roche Court.