I have attempted a review of a sculptural piece called "Girl with a Dolphin", by English sculptor Sir David Wynne.
For 6 months in 2006 I was blessed to live in the inner city London sanctuary of St Katherine’s Docks, across the road from the Tower of London and next to Tower Bridge. Outside the Thistle Tower Hotel in the shadow of Tower Bridge was a sculpture that fascinated me from the moment I saw it. “Girl with a Dolphin” is a marriage of two very different forms; that of the young girl and of the dolphin. The girl balances, like a prima ballerina, on the nose of the dolphin and, although static, it gives the impression of movement. The construction of the sculpture also gives the illusion of the figures flying unsupported, without a care.
Complimenting the form is the position of the sculpture. Located at the edge of the Thames, the view of the sculpture changes dramatically as you circle it. One minute the figures are suspended above the water, the next they are cast into a concrete wilderness – in both settings the figures are oblivious, caught up in their dance, absorbed in the moment. This is a piece of pure sculpture; cast from steel it shines in the sunlight and takes on a dulled quality in the murky London dusk.
Wynne is a reclusive figure, responsible for a number of famous works in London including the companion piece to the one featured, “Boy with a Dolphin” on Cheyne Walk, the Fred Perry bronze outside the Centre Court at Wimbledon, or the Queen Elizabeth Gates by Hyde Park Corner; pieces seen and admired by millions. If you get an opportunity to visit London, I recommend taking the time to view these pieces as they are awe-inspiring.
Wynne has taken two very recognisable figures and paired them in a magical way that is representative of our world, but unlikely to occur.
Like art, sculpture evokes an emotional response. When viewing “Girl with a Dolphin” I feel alive, the movement and joy evident in the piece is uplifting. You can imagine the laughter and excitement of the girl as she is whisked around by the dolphin, that brief moment where they are one, nature and man.
To be able to sit and enjoy something that has no moving parts, does not require electricity, does not interact with you or emit any sound, is a primeval experience. “Girl with a Dolphin” accomplishes this by allowing us to marvel at a scene and experience the moment from a variety of angles and perspectives. It is a piece to be savoured, with each viewing a unique and rewarding one.
