Partner Article

Artful mistake

An artist was bemused to find that his sculpture was rejected by a top art show - but its empty plinth was accepted and displayed on its own. The Sun reports that David Hensel’s sculpture of a laughing head - which took him two months to create - was not in the preview show as he expected. However, the tiny piece of wood built to hold the the sculpture in place was displayed as a piece of art in its own right.Mr Hensel, 64, of East Grinstead, West Sussex, said: “I was very excited about seeing my sculpture on display. But I walked all the way round the gallery looking for it and couldn’t find it. Eventually I saw the base on a shelf with the piece of wood that was meant to keep the head in place. “At first I was shocked but now I’m amused. It’s just a bit strange.” In a statement, the Royal Academy said: “The two parts were judged independently. The head was rejected. The base was thought to have merit and was accepted.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .