RBS agrees to allow Hepworth sculpture to be displayed once again in Wolverhampton
THE Royal Bank of Scotland has agreed to lend a piece of modern art to the city of Wolverhampton so it can go on public display ahead of its return to its former home.
‘Rock Form’, a sculpture by renowned artist Barbara Hepworth, had stood at the base of the escalators in the city’s Mander Centre for 47 years.
However, it was removed last year ahead of a refurbishment of the mall when the site was put up for sale. Although the sale has completed, many people in the city feared that the sculpture would never return.
Now RBS, which owns the sculpture, has formally agreed to loan it to City of Wolverhampton Council for display in the city’s art gallery from next month.
The sculpture will be displayed in the gallery atrium until a date is agreed for its return to the shopping centre.
The agreement between RBS and the city council means the sculpture will be displayed in the art gallery while the refurbishment of the Mander Centre, which is now owned by Benson Elliot, is completed. The work is expected to be finished by the end of 2017.
After the works are completed, RBS has agreed with Benson Elliot that Rock Form will be available for display at the Mander Centre.
Cllr John Reynolds, Wolverhampton’s cabinet member for city economy, said: “Rock Form is coming home. This sculpture belongs in Wolverhampton and I am thrilled that we’ve reached an agreement with RBS to loan it to the art gallery. It will be back on public display in the city, just as it was for almost 50 years before it left last year.
“I am very pleased that RBS have honoured their commitment to return Rock Form to Wolverhampton. The views of Wolverhampton people, supported by the city council, have been heard. I would like to pay tribute to the campaigners who worked tirelessly to ensure the sculpture remained in Wolverhampton.”
Barbara Hepworth created Rock Form in 1964 and the piece is cast in bronze. It is one of six similar castings – the others are held in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh County Hall, Truro, The Boston Museum of Fine Arts, The Association for Public Art in Philadelphia and the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena.
Hepworth is considered one of the most significant sculptors of modern times. Her work is internationally famous and during the 1950s and 60s she was one of the most successful artists in the world.
The sculpture was unveiled during the opening ceremony of the Mander Centre in 1968 having been donated by the Mander family.
Tate Britain in London is currently holding a major Hepworth exhibition which has inspired a renewed interest in her work.
