On The Edge 1.0 was first seen at The Espacio Gallery (London 2023). The exhibition
showcased work by members of the Royal Society of Sculptors, who had initially got to know one
another on Zoom meetings during the pandemic. The idea for the exhibition came from discussions
on these Zooms, the artists reflected on how, at a time when the world is on the edge of uncertainty,
with war in the Ukraine and climate change they could respond.
This question still seems very pertinent today, as the threat of climate change remains as great and the war continues in Ukraine, in addition to new wars in the middle East, protest in Iran, amongst other conflict around the world. Within the group, there are two sculptors from Ukraine, Borys Krylov and Oles Sydoruk, who are continuing their practice as best they can in Kiev. Stephen Duncan, an artist and poet of the group, has recently been to visit them and experienced life in Kiev first hand.
The exhibition at OVADA, co-curated by Denise Bryan and Tere Chad, takes a quote from the Ukrainian poet Boris Khersonsky: ‘Every hut in our beloved country is on the edge. And to be honest, I’m on the edge too. I feel sorry for the ones at the centre, but really I’m especially sorry for the ones in the camp towers, watching the frosty distance...’
The group proposes not a reprise of the previous exhibition but a follow on, when Stephen Duncan returned from his recent trip to Ukraine he told the group just how important sculpture and art are for the people there, and it made everyone think about how can the artists involved contribute a positive voice which is still on the edge.
