Listening to History

Bill Woodrow, among the leading contemporary British sculptors, often addresses issues of humor and irony with his work. In his early pieces, found objects were combined to create new meaning. In Listening to History, the placement of the head on the ground with the book tied against it and blinding the eyes, suggests many possible narrative meanings: learning from history, being blind to history, open-mindedness, closed-mindedness, and so on. The artist’s meticulous concern for detail is notable in this work.

Bill Woodrow. Listening to History, 1995 (cast 2001). Bronze, 29.5 x 26.75 x 31 inches. Gift of Fred and Lena Meijer. © Bill Woodrow.