Phillip King

Green Streamer

1970

Not on display

Artist: Phillip King 1934 – 2021
Medium: Painted steel
Dimensions: Object: 1118 × 3632 × 2362 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Purchased 1970
Reference: T01224

Display caption

During the 1950s King's sculptures were influenced by such earlier artists as Michelangelo, Rodin and Picasso. In 1960, he scrapped all his previous work as a result of seeing American Abstract Expressionist painting. The new American painting seemed to King to contain 'a sort of message of hope and optimism, large scale, less inbred'. Qualities of wit and humour, and largeness of scale, are characteristic of the abstract sculptures which King then began to make. 'Green Streamer' was made at the end of the 1960s when King was seeking to introduce a greater sense of space in his work. Its arrangement of curves vividly evoke an impression of movement.

Gallery label, September 2004

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Catalogue entry

Phillip King born 1934

T01224 Green Streamer 1970

Not inscribed.
Painted steel, 44 x 143 x 93 (111.8 x 363 x 236.2).
Purchased from the Rowan Gallery (Grant-in-Aid) 1970.
Exh: Rowan Gallery, July 1970 (no catalogue).

The sculpture is in an edition of two: the second version belongs to the Rowan Gallery. The artist welded T01224 himself in the foundry of an industrial firm. He made the second version in his own foundry in his studio.

Published in The Tate Gallery Report 1970–1972, London 1972.