''Contrapuntal Forms'' (BH 165) is a stone sculpture by

Barbara Hepworth Dame Jocelyn Barbara Hepworth (10 January 1903 – 20 May 1975) was an English artist and sculptor. Her work exemplifies Modernism and in particular modern sculpture. Along with artists such as Ben Nicholson and Naum Gabo, Hepworth was a leadi ...

, one of her first public commissions, made in 1950–51 for the

Festival of Britain The Festival of Britain was a national exhibition and fair that reached millions of visitors throughout the United Kingdom in the summer of 1951. Historian Kenneth O. Morgan says the Festival was a "triumphant success" during which people: ...

and installed outside the

Dome of Discovery The Dome of Discovery was a temporary exhibition building designed by architect Ralph Tubbs for the Festival of Britain celebrations which took place on London's South Bank in 1951, alongside the River Thames. The consulting engineers were Fr ...

on South Bank, London. It was one of two Hepworth commissions for the festival: the other was an abstract rotating sculpture, ''

Turning Forms ''Turning Forms'' (BH 166) is a concrete sculpture by Barbara Hepworth, one of her first public commissions, made in 1950 for the Festival of Britain. It was one of two Hepworth commissions for the Festival: the other was a sculpture of abstract ...

'' (BH 166). The work stands 120" (3.04m) high and is carved from blue limestone from

County Galway "Righteousness and Justice" , anthem = () , image_map = Island of Ireland location map Galway.svg , map_caption = Location in Ireland , area_footnotes = , area_total_km2 = ...

, Ireland. It depicts two semi-abstracted standing figures. The sculpture was commissioned by the

Arts Council of Great Britain The Arts Council of Great Britain was a non-departmental public body dedicated to the promotion of the fine arts in Great Britain. It was divided in 1994 to form the Arts Council of England (now Arts Council England), the Scottish Arts Council (l ...

who presented it to the

new town New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

Harlow Harlow is a large town and local government district located in the west of Essex, England. Founded as a new town, it is situated on the border with Hertfordshire and London, Harlow occupies a large area of land on the south bank of the upp ...

in Essex in 1953. It was the first artwork acquired (though not the first commissioned) by the Harlow Art Trust, and it is still sited at Glebelands in Harlow. The sculpture was listed Grade II on the National Heritage List for England in April 1998.

References

''Contrapuntal Forms''
barbarahepworth.org.uk
''Contrapuntal Forms''
barbarahepworth.org.uk
''Contrapuntal Forms'' by Barbara Hepworth
visitharlow.com {{coord, 51.77911, 0.11255, format=dms, type:landmark_region:GB, display=title 1950 sculptures Buildings and structures in Harlow Festival of Britain Grade II listed buildings in Essex Sculptures by Barbara Hepworth Limestone sculptures in the United Kingdom Grade II listed public art