Page 18 - link magazine

sQazine C, This month West Swindon residents Rachel Martin and Robert
Pubik °'% Cox and Landscape Architect Paul Joliffe look for the hidden
Seulpiur. meanings in Hideo Furuta's work 'Nexus' at Freshbrook Village
Centre.
-
Rachel Martin: and effort has gone into this sculp-
There are probably as many differ- ture.
entinterpretations to Nexus as there I think generally people would
are people who study it. appreciate something more cheer-
Personally I think it is a reminder ful or simply more simply under-
of past civilizations. The stone is stood and therefore appreciated by
the same as that used in Stone- everyone in the community.
henge and the wooden supports
suggest how the stones would have
been transported. The cave-like Robert Cox:
gap under the stones could suggest A pile of stones left on some bits of
pre-historic man and the pyramid wood in a scruffy mess in a corner?
shaped pinnacle a reminder of Before you rush by, give it a
another civilization. minute! What can you see? Noth-
What a contrast to the expand- ing?
ing modern area it inhabits? It Some bits of half-finished stone?
reminds me of the past, of man's Straight lines and flat surfaces dif-
Robert Cox and Rachel Martin and 'Nexus'
technical development and his ferent from the natural surfaces -
short life-span on Earth. though these were made by dyna- The sun doesn't ignore this pile And who has made those tracks
Unfortunately, I think most mite as well as frost. Try feeling of stones either: the complicated around the edge of the pile or
people would regard it as an eye- these with your hand - smooth as chequered pattern around the undermneath the tunnel, discover-
sore, or building material waiting well as rough. beams - or the crisp abrupt shape of ing the private corner behind the
to be collected. It is rather obscure, What about 'the patterns: the the pyramid; light open' surfaces stones or peering into the deep
there isn't even a plaque to give timbers underneath, the funny on top, dark unknown surfaces square cavities between each beam?
some clue to its purpose. Children brown markings above the tunnel, underneath. Is it really 'just a pile of stones?
probably appreciate it more than or the grainy ends ofwoodenbeams
adults, after all it's a great thing to as they start to weather? Paul Joliffe: cally. Tension is introduced by
climb! And is it actually just grey? Is it "What's it supposed to be?" spanning the ground with a large
Doubtless there are some people even all the same grey? What about "No, I don't understand it. slab into which a perfectly smooth,
who enjoy Nexus, but it's a shame those browns and oranges - they "Sculpture. You mean that pile of almost menacing pyramid rises.
there are so few when you consider surprised me. There are some rocks over there?" The rectangular timbers on when it
how much thought, planning, time greens too if you look for them, Nexus isn'taneasy pieceofsculp- all rests shows the vulnerability of
ture to appreciate, but then sculp- wood.
ture as brave as Hideo Furuta's To me it's a work of understate-
work will probably not attract an ment and contrast. Is it too much to
army of appreciative supporters suggest that man has always tried
WYVERN THEATRF~ defending and singing its praises. to order nature, only ultimately to
There is, however, much to ap-
be conquered by it?
SWINDON plaud; not least the way in which Draw your own conclusions.
Hideo carved, sawed and chiselled
My biggest regret is the sculp-
the work on location in sight and ture's sadly neglected surrounds.
Friday 8th & Saturday 9th June earshot of the public in 1986. At least remove the temporary
This likeable Japanese sculptor fencing lying drunkenly aside it.
We proudly present the first visit produced a daring work which It needs a more defined space in
to Swindon of explores the relationship between which the sculpture can be discov-
the natural qualities and beauty of ered. Ultimately one must ques-
S.C. 0 T 'TI 'SH stone with stark man made images. tion whether the village centre is
Some rocks balance and rest in a the best place for it.
CPFIZ4 cut and interlock almost mechani- boast a Nexus next to the chip shop!
But be pleased, not everyone can
very natural way, others are finely

Wyvern winners help Telethon
with A youngster fromSparcells made a
good guess at the Wyvern Theatre
THE THREE-PENNY OPERA
and won herself two books by well
by Bertolt Brecht known author Roald Dahl.
The popular classic created from a new form of Emma Doyle of Gairlock Close
was one of thousands of children
music theatre with its roots in jazz. who attended the stage version of
Tickets £10.80, £8.50 Roald Dahi's 'Matilda' in April. The
(10% discount for current Wyvern ran a 'Guess how many
books are in the cabinet' competi-
Classical Music Series Subscribers)
tion in the foyer and donated the
Concessions £1 off.
entry fee of 20p to the HTV Tele-
BOX OFFICE thon Appeal.
Altogether £140.20 was raised
I. RI 1)1 I ( \RI) I Made possible by and HTV continuity announcer Su HTV's Su Porter collects a cheque from
Ari.bR.ilo
(0793) 694055 (0793)524481 THAMESOOWN Porter visited the Wyvern to re- Emma Doyle of Sparcells and her cousin
BOROUGH OF
ceive the cheque and present the Kirsty Godwin from Chippenham
books to three winners.