5th July 2022 by Frances
Neal French
Neal French Three Figures, 2012, bronze. Bourdon Place, W1. Sited in a cobbled backstreet, Three Figures, is a celebration of local Londoners, from recent cultural history. The plaque nearby describes the inspiration for the sculpture, ‘a passing shopper stumbles upon Terence Donovan photographing the model Twiggy near to his studio in 1960s Mayfair.’ Neal French, British sculptor, a contemporary of Donovan, describes his work as ‘figurative and based on seen and experienced reality, often it is based on people I know doing ordinary things. However it is seldom literal. It usually derives from an image of a figure that seems entirely characteristic of that person, but which at the same time carries abstract sculptural qualities and possibilities. All of the work is about balancing those two elements and using the qualities of the materials to express them.’
His commissions include a variety of life size groups of figurative sculptures throughout the UK. Donovan, well known for his fashion photography, was part of a cultural revolution in post war Britain. His black and white photographs were unusually gritty and reflected his connection with his East London heritage. Similarly, Twiggy is synonymous with London’s iconic popular culture of the time, and is captured here in style and spirit.
‘Three Figures’ can be found on the Burnt Sienna Walk, between number 2, Antony Gormley’s ‘Room’ and number 3, Henry Moore’s ‘Time- Life Screen’.
(photo of ‘Three Figures’ Neal French, 2012, bronze, ‘Twiggy’ detail)
