Ian Hamilton Finlay: Fragments is reviewed in Sculpture Magazine

'Two freestanding sculptures stand out in this gallery—Republic (1995) and 12 / 1794 (1994). The five painted metal watering cans and five wooden drums of Republic are striking. Arrosoir (watering can) is the republican name for the day of the month on which Robespierre was guillotined; the drums recall the dying drummer boy painted by David in 1794. In 12 / 1794, which consists of 12 ceramic candlesticks, each on a wooden stool, Finlay evokes the doomed members of the Committee of Public Safety whose Reign of Terror ran from September 1793 to July 1794. Each candlestick is named. Critics have questioned Finlay’s exact politics and motives in these works, but when it comes to poetry, resonance, and aesthetics, there is no question that he was and remains one of the most intelligent, interesting, and provocative artists of our time. This much-deserved centenary celebration demonstrates the continued relevance of his questioning work.'

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Image: installation view, Ian Hamilton Finlay: Fragments

Victoria Miro, Gallery I, 16 Wharf Road, London N1 7RW

30 April–24 May 2025

© The Estate of Ian Hamilton Finlay

Courtesy the Artist’s Estate and Victoria Miro