WORK OF THE WEEK: Olivia Bax, Monkey Cups, 2018
Olivia Bax
Monkey Cups, 2018
Steel, chicken wire, newspaper, PVA, household paint, plaster
240 x 212 x 146 cm
94 ⅖ x 83 ⅖ x 57 ⅖ in.
“Monkey Cups (2018), which fills the Orangery with its vibrant energy, calls forth a contradiction of emotions. There is a joyfulness about this work, coming partly from its name [which] denotes mischievousness and playfulness, and partly from visual associations with the exhilaration of funfair rides.”
Olivia Bax’s earlier work, Monkey Cups is made from three principal parts. Whilst they are not bolted together, the sculpture relies on balance and counterbalance to give its stability.
Mimicking the vessel-like appearance of its namesake – a plant most commonly found in Asia – Monkey Cups is animated by the dynamic potential of its vibrant cavities to hold and provide, imbuing the work with a sense of passage and flow intrinsic to Olivia Bax’s practice. The work’s containers expand outward, exemplifying the relationship between interior and exterior, which is complemented by the gallery setting, as the Orangery doors open out into the sprawling sculpture park.
Monkey Cups (2018) is currently on display in our gallery at Roche Court as a part of Olivia Bax: Handrailing, a solo exhibition of sculpture in collaboration with Sid Motion Gallery. The exhibition has been extended until 5 January 2025.
Photography: Tim Bowditch