William Turnbull

Head 2

About this artwork

Turnbull made this work in plaster, cutting and gouging it before casting it in bronze. It is a head – the eyes, nose and mouth are just discernable – re-interpreted for the post-war age. The resemblance to stones, dinosaur eggs and hand-grenades is probably not accidental; the head has the look of something that has been to hell and back and it has no correct way up. Turnbull was one of a group of young British sculptors, including Eduardo Paolozzi, Reg Butler and Lynn Chadwick, who showed in the ‘New Aspects of British Sculpture’ exhibition at the Venice Biennale in 1952. Commentators noted their common interest in geometry, fear and anxiety, which was rife in post-war art of this period. The term ‘geometry of fear’ was coined to describe their work.

Updated before 2020

  • artist:
    William Turnbull (1922 - 2012) Scottish
  • title:
    Head 2
  • date created:
    1955
  • materials:
    Bronze
  • measurements:
    11.40 x 10.20 x 17.80 cm
  • object type:
  • credit line:
    Purchased from the Knapping Fund 2009
  • accession number:
    GMA 5112
  • gallery:
  • subject:
  • artwork photographed by:
    Antonia Reeve
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William Turnbull

William Turnbull