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English
Toby Christian
New Potato, 2007
In choosing marble, Toby Christian embraces, confronts and actualises the entire sculptural tradition. But to the monumental and often pompous grandeur associated with the medium, the artist opposes a quietly understated aesthetic, one that focuses on the delicate and the mundane rather than the mythological. New Potato came out of Christian’s first encounter with the material. Instead of the neat, bright white blocks he expected, the sculptor was faced with black weathered stone. ‘Is that marble?’ – It was, but the marble had a hard crust that needed to be removed. Here, the stone’s skin has been peeled off as though with a kitchen knife; what remains is a kernel of usable material, looking tantalisingly edible.
Extract from ‘Display Case’, New and Used Pianos, Full Flag, London, May 2009, p.15-22.
Toby Christian
Born UK, 1983
Lives and works in London
www.tobychristian.com
Toby Christian, New Potato, 2007. Marble. 1-3/4 x 2-1/2 x 1-3/4 in (5 x 6 x 5 cm). Courtesy: the artist.
Toby Christian, Pinch, 2007. Plaster, paint, filler, bulldog clip. Dimensions variable. Courtesy: the artist.
Toby Christian, Block (Yellow), 2008. Painted reinforced plaster. 82-3/4x 29 x 13-1/2 in (210 x 74 x 34 cm). Courtesy: the artist. Photo: Francis Ware.
Toby Christian, Water, 2009. Silkscreen on Fabriano Accademia. Edition of 40. 19 3/4 x 15 3/4 in (50 x 40cm). Courtesy: the artist.
Toby Christian, Nose, 2008. Marble. 1 1/2-x 2-1/2 x 1-1/2 in (3 x 6 x 3cm). Courtesy: the artist.
Toby Christian, Lamp, 2008. Patinated and polished bronze. 4-3/4 x 9-1/16 x 3-1/8 inches (12 x 23 x 8 cm). Courtesy: the artist.
Toby Christian, Empty Plinth, 2009. MDF, filler, acrylic paint. 39 1/2 x 11 3/4 x 11 3/4 in (100 x 30 x 30 cm). Courtesy: the artist.
Toby Christian, Coal, 2007. Permanent marker on marble. 3 x 2-3/4 x 2-3/4 in (8 x 7 x 7 cm). Courtesy: the artist.
Toby Christian, Buoy, 2008. Painted bronze. 10 x 8x 7-1/2 in (25 x 20 x 19 cm). Courtesy: the artist.
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Toby Christian
New Potato, 2007
Le marbre invoque la grandeur monumentale de toute une tradition de la sculpture que l'esthétique sobre de Toby Christian défie et honore à la fois. L'artiste préfère les évocations discrètes du quotidien aux sujets mythologiques, voire grandiloquents, généralement associés à cette technique. New Potato marque sa première rencontre avec le marbre qu'il n'avait d'ailleurs pas tout de suite reconnu à l'état brut. « C'est du marbre? ». Difficile de croire que les beaux blocs blancs et scintillants de son imaginaire ne sont en réalité que de modestes cailloux noircis et usés, recouverts d'une épaisse croûte à retirer. Comme si un couteau de cuisine avait servi à éplucher la peau d'une pomme de terre, la chair de la pierre apparaît nue, presque comestible.
Extrait de ‘Display Case’, New and Used Pianos, Full Flag, Londres, mai 2009, p.15-22.
Toby Christian
Né au Royaume-Uni en 1983
Vit et travaille à Londres
www.tobychristian.com
Toby Christian, New Potato, 2007. Marble. 1-3/4 x 2-1/2 x 1-3/4 in (5 x 6 x 5 cm). Courtesy: the artist.
Toby Christian, Pinch, 2007. Plaster, paint, filler, bulldog clip. Dimensions variable. Courtesy: the artist.
Toby Christian, Block (Yellow), 2008. Painted reinforced plaster. 82-3/4x 29 x 13-1/2 in (210 x 74 x 34 cm). Courtesy: the artist. Photo: Francis Ware.
Toby Christian, Water, 2009. Silkscreen on Fabriano Accademia. Edition of 40. 19 3/4 x 15 3/4 in (50 x 40cm). Courtesy: the artist.
Toby Christian, Nose, 2008. Marble. 1 1/2-x 2-1/2 x 1-1/2 in (3 x 6 x 3cm). Courtesy: the artist.
Toby Christian, Lamp, 2008. Patinated and polished bronze. 4-3/4 x 9-1/16 x 3-1/8 inches (12 x 23 x 8 cm). Courtesy: the artist.
Toby Christian, Empty Plinth, 2009. MDF, filler, acrylic paint. 39 1/2 x 11 3/4 x 11 3/4 in (100 x 30 x 30 cm). Courtesy: the artist.
Toby Christian, Coal, 2007. Permanent marker on marble. 3 x 2-3/4 x 2-3/4 in (8 x 7 x 7 cm). Courtesy: the artist.
Toby Christian, Buoy, 2008. Painted bronze. 10 x 8x 7-1/2 in (25 x 20 x 19 cm). Courtesy: the artist.
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