Alumni sculpture in front of NTU's Arkwright building is Nottingham's newest public artwork
5 December 2013
A sculpture inspired by one of Britain's greatest sculptors, the late Sir Anthony Caro, is Nottingham's newest piece of public art and the first to go on show to mark the 170th anniversary of Nottingham Trent University's School of Art & Design.
Alumnus Richard Trupp's striking wedge-shaped sculpture, titled 'Juggernaut of Nought', has been installed outside the University's Arkwright Building in Shakespeare Street as part of a major forthcoming alumni exhibition titled 'Since 1843: in the Making'.
NTU's School of Art & Design was founded in 1843 and in January a year-long series of events for its 170th anniversary will begin with the exhibition by more than 100 successful alumni.
The event, spread over the University's City site, will showcase the creativity of a diverse range of nationally and internationally successful alumni artists and designers including Turner Prize winner Simon Starling, St Pancras 'clouds' artist Lucy Orta, Sexy Beast film director Jonathan Glazer, comic actor Paul Kaye and top rock music photographer Andy Earl.
Arriving ahead of the rest of the exhibits, 'Juggernaut of Nought' quickly got passers-by talking when it was installed in the grass outside the ornate Gothic entrance to the Arkwright Building.
Its creator, Richard Trupp, graduated from NTU in 1997 with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art. He became assistant to one of Britain's greatest contemporary sculptors, the late Sir Anthony Caro, before pursuing his own career as an artist which has seen him exhibit his monumental metallic forms at locations across Britain. Richard said: “I had a superb time in Nottingham. Here is where I learned to weld. Here is where I found my vocation as a sculptor. It’s an inspiring place where I made lifelong friends.”
Ann Priest, Pro-Vice Chancellor of NTU and Head of the College of Art, Design and the Built Environment, said: "This fantastic opening exhibition is an important reminder of the quality and influence of Nottingham's creative output and a testament to the unique nature of our community of artists, practitioners and scholars."
The exhibition, 'Since 1843: In the Making', runs from Wednesday 8 January to Friday 7 February 2014 and will begin with a VIP launch featuring live music and performances. Find out more.