Contrapuntal Forms Sculpture

This is a pair of semi-abstract sculptures created between 1950 and 1951 by Barbara Hepworth. Originally sculpted for the Festival of Britain's South Bank exhibition, they were relocated to their current site in 1953. The sculptures are made of blue limestone and stand over seven feet tall. They were intended to symbolise the spirit of discovery, referencing their original placement outside the Dome of Discovery. The Harlow Arts Trust, a notable independent committee established in 1953, acquired these sculptures as the first artwork for Harlow, contributing to an exceptional and unique collection of public art, unmatched by any other New Town. These sculptures represent a distinguished example of Hepworth’s work from a crucial period in her artistic development. The Festival of Britain, held between May and September 1951, celebrated British arts, industry, and technology, marking the centenary of the Great Exhibition and promoting national pride and recovery after the war. The South Bank site, visited by approximately 8.5 million people, included the Royal Festival Hall and several pavilions, cafés, sculptures, and the Festival Gardens.