Clifford Last

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Clifford Frank Last (1918-1991) was an Australian sculptor born in England, the son of Nella Last, British author of the war diary Housewife, 49.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Clifford Last was the younger son of Nella and William Last, shopfitter in Barrow-in-Furness, England. He had an older brother, Arthur. In the film Housewife, 49,[1] it is hinted that Cliff was gay, but that his mother did not realise it. After war service in which he lost his closest companion and was injured himself, he trained in art and emigrated to Australia in 1947, becoming a noted sculptor. He has works in Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.

[edit] Centre Five group

Last was a foundation member of Centre Five, the group formed in 1960 to promote contemporary abstract sculpture in Australia. The group was first Centre Four, founded in 1953 by Hungarian Julius Kane, featuring Last, Norma Redpath and German Inge King. Centre Five was a splinter group of the Victorian Sculptors Society comprising members Clifford Last, Inge King, Vincas Jomantas, Tesutis Zikaras, Julius Kane and Lenton Parr. They shared common characteristics in their style and felt that exhibiting together would be to their advantage. Their aim was to foster the understanding of modern sculpture among Australian architects and the public.[2]

The problem lay not in exhibiting together, but rather with the fact that they resigned from the Society and in effect set themselves up in competition with it. The result was a severe split in the very small sculpture world of the time, the repercussions of which are still felt today. Due to the nature of the split, the Society – formed to promote the work of members – missed out on official consideration.[3] Last later was a member of the Commonwealth Art Advisory Board.[4]

[edit] Work

Materials included bronze, slate, wood and aluminium. Using wood as his favoured medium, Last furthered his studies at the Melbourne Technical College. After spending fourteen months back in England in 1950–1951 Last’s work took on a more geometrical form. He explored the use of shapes that he believed demonstrated the emotions existing in family groups and then explored subjects such as duality and Trinity through the manipulation of religious references and symbols.

Last preferred the work to speak for itself and unless asked, opted not to go into detail.[5] He carved wood such as Jarrah, using for example, the cruciform shape in relativistic relationships which left interpretation open. One such form could refer to animals, plants, icons or people.

[edit] References

  1. ^ * IMDb, the Internet movie Database.
  2. ^ Thriving in a cultural void - www.theage.com.au
  3. ^ Association of Sculptors of Victoria > About Us > Association History
  4. ^ *Max Dimmack, Clifford Last, Melbourne, Hawthorn Press. 1972. Monograph on Australian sculptor.
  5. ^ Ballarat Fine Art Gallery - Last, Clifford

[edit] Further reading

  • Max Dimmack, Clifford Last, Melbourne, Hawthorn Press. 1972. Monograph on Australian sculptor.
  • Geoffrey Edwards, Noel Hutchison, Brett Lockwood (editor), Clifford Last Sculpture, A Retrospective Exhibition – 23 November 1989-29 January 1990, Catalogue, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, 1989.