London 2012

Casting Olympians

Published 21 May 2012

Sculptures of Olympic heroes including Dame Kelly Holmes have been created by a University of Brighton graduate.

Louise Giblin has cast the bodies of five top athletes to celebrate sporting success and to raise money for charity. Her work will be exhibited at Saffron Gallery in Battle, from 27 July to 11 August 2012.

Louise studied sculpture at what was Brighton Polytechnic where she was taught by British sculptor Antony Gormley, creator of the Angel of the North. She went on to complete an MA in history and theory of modern art at the Chelsea College of Art. She is an associate of the Royal British Society of Sculptors (ARBS).

Louise’s aims were to produce sculptures focusing on physical power and personal triumph: “I think we wear achievements and things we value as armour to avoid personal scrutiny. Hence my sculptures often appear to be wearing armour. I’m impressed by people who commit to goals with determination as this makes them powerful; these Olympians are awe-inspiring both physically and mentally. London 2012 is an opportunity for me to work with extraordinary people, celebrate British success and to help raise money for a great cause.”

For the Body Casting Olympians series she has made sculptures of Kriss Akabusi, Dame Kelly Holmes, Sally Gunnell, Darren Leach and strong London 2012 contender, Beth Tweddle. In each case, she used a special technique for body casting subjects and applied designs to the surface of the resulting clay torso. The designs feature a combination of stripped, stylised musculature on the back and detailed relief imagery of the Union Flag on the front. For an added twist of individuality, Louise integrates the design with imagery relating to the city that gave way to each athlete’s ‘greatest achievement’. For Paralympian swimmer Darren Leach, this meant Sydney – where he won four medals – and for Dame Kelly Holmes, Athens; in celebration of her ‘Double Gold’ triumph in the birthplace of the ancient Olympics.

Each of the five designs may be reproduced up to 12 times in cold cast metals or bronze, for the limited edition series. The sport stars are set to receive one of their £9,960 cold cast sculptures to keep or sell to raise money for brain injury charity Headfirst. Others from the series will be sold with a proportion of the profit going to the charity.

The body casts were exhibited in Mall Galleries, London, 21-26 May 2012.