Peter Hide

Description

Peter Hide lives and works in Canada, and in the late 1990s he was given a commission to make a sculpture to stand in front of the theatre in Edmonton, Alberta. The sculpture reflected the structure of a proscenium arch, and this piece is a development from that idea.

As a pupil of Anthony Caro, working within his sphere of influence, Peter Hide has long been aware of the difficulties this entailed. He acknowldeges that to move away from that sphere was to lodge in barren land, and to his credit, he has found a sculptural language that acknowledges Caro, but which is entirely his own.

His individual stance is exemplified in Plainsong. In this work, he has used steel robustly and with strange elegance. The form of a proscenium is faintly present in the structure - two upright supporting pieces, and a cross-member above. A hint of a stage thrusting forward is also there, and with its flat backing, the composition as a whole works in harmony. Vertical, horizontal and curved members combine in a sculpture that stands tall and which is unified by the application of a single colour. The tan paint resonates, making an unassuming statement, but one which is strong enough to give the forms utmost clarity. Tonal values are easliy discernable through this flat application of colour, and the forms may be read simply through this device.

Theatricality is implicit, but not omnipresent in this piece. Plainsong in musical terms is music sung in unison, in a recitative-like manner. It has been performed in the western Christian church from the earliest times, and is a simple air without variations - a plain and unadorned statement. The same may be said of Peter Hide's sculpture, which he has aptly named and which is entirely open, almost pictorial.