The Distressed Look

‘The Distressed Look’ is a series of 21 mixed media sculptures by Dale, each resembling a masked head impaled on a spike. Research process: The challenge of the works was to find variation within strict technical parameters: starting each time with a flat, linear template, a range of 21 masks were created that sought to reflect a range of human experience. Research insights: The work conveyed a variety of individual moods, despite the repetitive base form. The different approaches to ‘masking’ resulted in sculptures that expressed discomfort, beauty, eccentricity, aggression and inscrutability. The sculptures are part of an on-going collaboration with Prof. Adam Smyth exploring the visualisation of a grangerised edition of Ovid’s Art of Love (1813). Dissemination: The work was commissioned and exhibited as part of the group exhibition ‘Remote Work’ at The Grundy, Blackpool, 27 March – 19 June 2021. Seven of the sculptures have been acquired for The Grundy’s collection