RSA Scottish Art
Slab Torso
 | Artist: Richard Ross Robertson |
| Title: Slab Torso | |
| Year: 1997 | |
| Medium: wood | |
| Dimensions: | |
| Suggested topic: | |
| Source: RSA Diploma Collection | |
| View full screen image of this work | |
| Open print version of this work | |
| © the artist | |
| Description: Richard Ross Robertson began his career working in clay and terracotta, but later turned to carving in stone and wood.Slab Torso is an example of Robertson's direct carving in wood from the 1970s. The piece makes use of the shape of the original tree trunk and turns it into a human form with minimum treatment to the surface. This allows the rich colour and grain of the wood, and the gently modulated form, to be fully appreciated. Robertson has used semi-abstract forms to represent the human torso. Even though it is not an anatomical replica of a torso we recognise certain features, such as the nipples and chest muscles, the navel and stomach contour, and the beginnings of the arms at the top of the piece.The carving has been finely executed. It is likely that the artist had to carve away a lot of wood from the original piece to get the basic shape for the sculpture, which can be difficult and laborious even with power tools. The forming of the sculpture and the final shaping and smoothing require skill and patience. Overambitious use of the chisel, discovery of a knot or a crack, or ignoring a change in the direction of the wood-grain, could easily have ruined the piece before completion. This piece has an energetic mood. The muscular body is full of vitality, and the strongly directional lines running from stomach up to shoulder suggests the figure could be reaching high into the air. It is also a very sensual piece - the physical strength suggested by the carving is accompanied by the sensual smoothness of the surface which naturally invites touch. | |
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