Little Me
Guy Reid
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The gallery is open on Saturday 16 February from 9am - 6pm.
Guy Reid’s show ‘Little Me’ presents a series of small wall hung sculptures in lime wood, a multitude of miniature people carved and often intricately painted that seem so alive that they might even move . Amongst the subjects shown, are two tiny full bodied portraits of writers Philip Pullman and Dame Jackie Wilson, where even the time on Pullman’s watch is noted or the facets on Wilson’s famous ringed fingers seem to glint. Part of the immense joy of these works is that they bring a smile to your face. Pullman himself has described the artist as a genius. ‘That’s ME,’ he says, ‘small enough to hold in the hand…..and so entirely THERE.’
You can see a short film by Margot Donkervoort about the making of the Philip Pullman piece here.
Reid also presents a new collection of exquisite sculptures of his principle model Andrew including several tiny relief studies in perspective that are so strange they make your head spin with their complexity and extraordinary detail. Freed from the plinth, they appear to float in eternity. This is work to provoke thought and also always simply to enjoy.
Guy Reid is considered to be one of the finest living carvers. Classically trained, he has worked on collections as diverse as the Metropolitan Museum New York, the V&A and the Sir John Soane’s museums London and his sculptures has been exhibited internationally in the US, Europe and South Africa. His work can be found in important collections worldwide. He has been the subject of numerous articles in the press including those in The Guardian, The Financial Times and The New Statesman.
He lives quietly in South West France with his partner Andrew.
All photography by Francois Deladerriere