John Atkin: The Navigator
related Maquettes and Drawings
12 April – 25 May 2003
The Room Upstairs, Christchurch Mansion

John Atkin was commissioned to make a sculpture for Ipswich, alongside the River Orwell, by Ipswich River Action Group. The exhibition The Navigator - Related Maquettes and Work on Paper, revealed the story behind the commission through the artist’s working drawings, photographs and maquettes.

The sculpture was inspired by Ipswich’s Maritime history and industrial past. Influences were found amongst a variety of sources, from nineteenth century stern castings for ships, navigational instruments, to pattern templates and the “wheels” of industry. John does not make representational figures; he suggests human presence through the use of forms that allude to recognisable objects such as tools. This mix of reference to human anatomy and industrialisation has been a consistent aspect of Atkin's career. Rather than the traditional depiction of the figure, Atkin prefers to use metaphors.

This work was constructed in corten steel, a material that is synonymous with the area’s past industrial use. It stood, 16 feet high, alongside the river, adjacent to a cycle path, watching, guarding, a sentinel to a new era. The Navigator also alludes to Ipswich’s maritime history as well as a navigator for the future.

John Atkin was born in 1959, first studying at Leicester Polytechnic. During his year out (between Leicester and the RCA) he was invited by Henry Moore to visit him at his studios in Much Hadham. Moore had seen examples of Atkin’s student work and wanted to financially assist him with postgraduate study. Henry Moore kindly funded his postgraduate at the Royal College of Art, London, as well as working visits to Ed Kienholz’s studio in Berlin. In 1989 his first major exhibition took place at the Museum of Modern Art in Melbourne. He has received awards from the British Council and Australian Councils and has had work shown at Sculpture at Goodward, The Kouros Gallery in New York and The Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice. He continues to exhibit worldwide and has a studio in London.

Navigator was commissioned by Ipswich River Action Group with help from Commissions East and financially supported by Arts Council England Lottery Programme.

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