
Large Blade Venus is the biggest sculpture in the Blade Venus series; balanced on its sharpest point, it exhibits a poised stillness. Its imposingly elegant form derives from Japanese Samurai swords and Chinese chopping knives, but also recalls natural objects such as leaves, as well as archaic figures of Venus. By paring the sculpture down to essentials, Turnbull avoids the restriction of a single interpretation, echoing the deliberate ambiguity of Zen paintings. Left open to external changes of context and presentation and to the imagination of the viewer, Large Blade Venus is representative of Turnbull's idea of sculpture as both completed product and ongoing process. It was purchased and presented to the Fitzwilliam Museum in honour of Sir Nicholas Goodison, The Art Fund's Chairman from 1986 to 2002, who has been a longstanding admirer of Turnbull's work.
More information
Title of artwork, date
Large Blade Venus, 1990
Date supported
2005
Medium and material
Bronze
Dimensions
317.5 x 99.1 x 68 cm
Grant
141000
Total cost
141000

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