Artist:
Bob Allen
Title:
It Takes Two
Year:
2002
Adress:
Canada Square Park
www.canarywharf.com:
Following a serious operation, Bob Allen was advised to take up carving to strengthen his left arm. Discovering he had talent, Allen began creating sculpture, taking his inspiration from nature, often carving wood using traditional tools and working in the open air.
It Takes Two is a bronze cast of a carving from the fallen bough of an ancient English Yew listed in the Domesday Book. Allen’s aim is to reveal the hidden quality in the wood, and here it was the female form that emerged first, later complemented with a male form.
www.boballensculptor.com:
Having had no formal training or artistic background, my introduction to the world of sculpture was by accident, rather than design. Whilst recovering from major surgery, I began chopping wood to regain strength and develop stamina.
I was soon carving unique wooden pieces to order and quickly realised that creating sculptural forms was the most satisfying wonderful work I have ever done.
I started producing small castings in bronse and copper resin and then became involved in scaling up my work for placements in garden and larger homes. In July 2000 I became a full time sculptor.
In 2002 Canary Wharf Group commissioned me to produce "It Takes Two" for their landmark building, One Canada Square. This was followed by "All Clear" a 9ft bronse unveiled by the Countess of Wessed at Benenden Hospital in Kent and "Go" a 6ft copper resin that stands in Stratford, adjacent to the 2012 Olympic site.
Most of my work is greatly influenced by nature and tends to incorporate the flowing curvaceous elements of the human form. My work is constantly developing and the scale of the sculptures has increased accordingly; they now range from 63cm to 42ft.
I feel very fortunate to have, by total chance, discovered my passion in life.
Following a serious operation, Bob Allen was advised to take up carving to strengthen his left arm. Discovering he had talent, Allen began creating sculpture, taking his inspiration from nature, often carving wood using traditional tools and working in the open air.
It Takes Two is a bronze cast of a carving from the fallen bough of an ancient English Yew listed in the Domesday Book. Allen’s aim is to reveal the hidden quality in the wood, and here it was the female form that emerged first, later complemented with a male form.
www.boballensculptor.com:
Having had no formal training or artistic background, my introduction to the world of sculpture was by accident, rather than design. Whilst recovering from major surgery, I began chopping wood to regain strength and develop stamina.
I was soon carving unique wooden pieces to order and quickly realised that creating sculptural forms was the most satisfying wonderful work I have ever done.
I started producing small castings in bronse and copper resin and then became involved in scaling up my work for placements in garden and larger homes. In July 2000 I became a full time sculptor.
In 2002 Canary Wharf Group commissioned me to produce "It Takes Two" for their landmark building, One Canada Square. This was followed by "All Clear" a 9ft bronse unveiled by the Countess of Wessed at Benenden Hospital in Kent and "Go" a 6ft copper resin that stands in Stratford, adjacent to the 2012 Olympic site.
Most of my work is greatly influenced by nature and tends to incorporate the flowing curvaceous elements of the human form. My work is constantly developing and the scale of the sculptures has increased accordingly; they now range from 63cm to 42ft.
I feel very fortunate to have, by total chance, discovered my passion in life.