Ian Hamilton Finlay's 'Ring of Waves' Exhibition at David Nolan Gallery Explores Sea Through Concrete Poetry
From May 8 to June 29, 2013, the David Nolan Gallery in New York City showcased 'Ring of Waves,' an exhibition highlighting the works of Ian Hamilton Finlay, a Scottish sculptor and poet. This collection, spanning from the late 1960s to the mid-2000s, delved into themes surrounding the sea. Finlay, celebrated for his Concrete Poetry, investigates the complexities between nature, society, and communication through metaphorical expressions. Among the prominent pieces were 'Chrysalis' (1996), 'Cloud Barge' (1968), and 'Wave Rock' (circa 1975). The exhibition's title work, 'Ring of Waves' (1968), displays eight lines of poetry on black Plexiglas, utilizing mechanical fonts to form abstract landscapes that resonate with Jean-Paul Sartre's idea of the 'essential poverty' of imagined images.
Key facts
- Ian Hamilton Finlay's exhibition 'Ring of Waves' ran from May 8 to June 29, 2013
- The show was held at David Nolan Gallery at 527 West 29th Street in New York City
- Finlay was a Scottish sculptor and poet who lived from 1925 to 2006
- He came to prominence in the 1960s as a practitioner of Concrete Poetry
- The exhibition featured works spanning from the late 1960s to mid-2000s
- Key works included 'Chrysalis' (1996), 'Cloud Barge' (1968), 'Wave Rock' (circa 1975), and 'Ring of Waves' (1968)
- Finlay's work explores the relationship between nature, society, and human communication through metaphor
- His poem objects use mechanical fonts rather than organic handwriting to create abstract linguistic landscapes
Entities
Artists
- Ian Hamilton Finlay
Institutions
- David Nolan Gallery
Locations
- New York City
- United States