Bryan Kneale's 'Slatehook' unveiled after restoration on Clapham’s Fenwick Estate
We are delighted to have unveiled the restored Slatehook, a sculpture by Bryan Kneale, on the Fenwick Estate in Clapham North, together with Lambeth Mayor Cllr Paul Valentine, residents, friends and local schoolchildren.
Slatehook was commissioned in 1961 through the London County Council's Patronage of the Arts Scheme, which brought work by leading sculptors into new housing to enrich everyday public spaces. Inspired by slate gateposts on the Isle of Man where the artist was brought up, its twisted steel suggests a horse drawn plough.
Over the decades, Slatehook showed the effects of time and weather. Its metalwork had corroded and its large slate slab had been graffitied. The conservation work included cleaning the sculpture, removing limescale deposits, filling cracks, and repainting the steel with a protective coat.
HOLT director Dr Nicola Stacey said: “Slatehook is an artwork by a fantastic artist whose work is in the world’s biggest galleries, so it’s wonderful to have it here on Fenwick Estate. We hope that it brings local residents great interest and pride for many generations to come.”
The Mayor of Lambeth, Cllr Paul Valentine, said at the unveiling: “Slatehook really shows you that art, culture and heritage is inspirational to everyone and it’s important to have this everywhere in our borough. I’m delighted to be here and it’s been a fantastic event.”
Famous for his work in welded metals, Bryan Kneale was the first abstract sculptor to be elected to the Royal Academy. His work is held in collections including Tate, the British Museum and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
We were delighted to host Bryan Kneale’s daughter, Kate Kneale, at the unveiling. Addressing the guests, and especially children, she said: “I am touched and moved that you’re here, and I’m thrilled that you restored this work. It is a reminder that we should all have these things around us. [...] My father would be so happy to see this project. But the most important thing that he would really really like you to do is to use this to fire up your imagination and go on and find your voice and find your place in the world.”
Ishmael from Heathbrook Primary School, said: “I think it is a good thing it's been restored because we don't want it to get all rusty at the end because of the rain and everything. If we don't restore it, it will be like crushed out and in the future people won't be able to see it. This is good because someone might be able to see the artwork and they might get inspired themselves and make big artworks like that one.”
Thank you to everyone who came to the unveiling, including local residents who shared their memories of Slatehook, Kate Kneale, representatives of Bryan Kneale’s gallery Pangolin London, Royal Academy of Arts and the students and teachers of local schools St Andrews and Heathbrook Primary School.
We would also like to thank Lambeth Council for working so closely with us and to Richard Rogers Conservation for their fine work.
