Kurt Schwitters

Red Wire Sculpture

1944

© DACS, 2018

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In Tate Britain

Walk Through British Art: 1940

Free entry
Artist
Kurt Schwitters 1887–1948
Medium
Metal, plaster and stone
Dimensions
Object: 250 x 130 x 130 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Purchased 1990
Reference
T05767

Display caption

Schwitters arrived in Britain as an exile in 1940 and remained here for the rest of his life. Primarily celebrated for collages and reliefs made from found materials, he also made sculptures throughout his career. They included small-scale works, and objects made for a series of sculptural environments. The sculptures on display here were made in England by Schwitters towards the end of his life. They are characterised by an inventive use of found objects, pieces of wood or wire and materials, such as plaster, fashioned by the artist. Although abstract, their shapes are biomorphic, recalling the forms of nature, and their suggestive titles demonstrate a wry sense of humour.

Gallery label, August 2004

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Kurt Schwitters, ‘Chicken and Egg’ 1946

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1946
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Modern Art Gallery Ltd (London, UK), ‘Leaflet advertising the December exhibition held at the Modern Art Gallery Ltd on ‘Masterpieces by Great Masters’ also featuring ‘Paintings and Sculptures by Kurt Schwitters’ 1944

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1944
TGA 9510/4/8/1
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1941
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c.1945–7
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23 November 1947
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Pinacotheca Gallery (New York, USA), ‘Photocopy of an exhibition catalogue for ‘Kurt Schwitters’ at The Pinacotheca Jan-Feb 1948’ [January 1948]

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[January 1948]
TGA 9510/3/3/21