Bearing
Light
Antony Gormley's Bearing Light series, created in 1990, comprises twelve woodcut prints that delve into the exploration of human forms and their existential essence. Each print, sequentially titled from Bearing Light 1 to Bearing Light 12, captures silhouetted figures in various stances, rendered with a stark simplicity that emphasises the interaction of body and light.
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Meaning & Analysis
Bearing Light by Antony Gormley focuses on the human body, not as a detailed anatomical study, but as a vessel for expressing broader existential themes. Each print features a simplified, almost abstracted human form, positioned against a stark background. The figures are depicted in poses that suggest movement or contemplation, reflecting Gormley's interest in the body as a space of experience and perception.
The use of woodcut printing emphasises the tactile qualities of the images. Gormley exploits the texture of the wood grain to inject an organic quality into the prints, which complements the themes of basic human instincts and connections to the earth. The black ink used in the series to depict silhouettes that play with highly contrasting light and shadow, enhancing the visual impact of the figures.
Bearing Light explores themes of visibility and presence, questioning the ways in which human beings occupy space physically and emotionally. The series invites viewers to contemplate the ways light and shadow define our understanding of human forms, suggesting a metaphysical inquiry into the nature of existence and visibility.
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