HAMISH MACKIE
presents
A Solo Exhibition of New Sculpture
7th -19th October 2013
The Gallery in Cork Street
28 Cork Street, London W1S 3NG
Mackie’s works “have a compelling freshness, but also great emotional force. Looking at these
sculptures, the spectator often feels that he or she is in the actual presence of the creature
portrayed.” Edward Lucie-Smith, art critic & historian, 2013.
Internationally acclaimed artist Hamish Mackie will present a solo exhibition of new works at
the Gallery in Cork Street from 7th October 2013. His distinctive sculptural depictions of
animals have earned him a reputation as one of the world’s foremost wildlife sculptors and this
exhibition will be a culmination of three years’ work dedicated to his subject-matter.
Mackie has created nearly 50 new works for this triennial exhibition, ranging in size from small
guinea fowl to life-size camels. Though his passion began with British wildlife, the artist has
travelled widely in order to closely observe a diverse range of animals in their natural habitat.
In 2011, he was invited on an expedition cruise to Antarctica with polar experts Ice-Tracks and
had the “invaluable opportunity to study and sculpt some of the planet’s hardiest wildlife within
their pristine rugged environment” Mackie was particularly fascinated by the albatross he
encountered on South Georgia, and was much affected by the fact that 19 out of 21 species of
this bird are currently threatened with extinction. In his depictions of them, the artist captures
the majesty of the animal, conveying both their magnitude and their vulnerability.
By contrast, Mackie has also travelled to Dubai to study camels, as well as completing a series
of dynamic cheetah and leopard sculptures after tracking them with Africat in Namibia.
The exhibition will also showcase British wildlife including otters, deer, game birds and bulls.
For the latter, Mackie has not only studied the living animals, but has also looked closely at
carcasses in order to gain a deeper understanding of their composition. “For me a knowledge
of anatomy is fundamental… Once I had the bull’s anatomy in my head I was able to sculpt the
bull series without interruption.”
It is a combination of this careful, compassionate, observation and obvious delight in his
subject that allows such vitality in the finished works. As Lucie-Smith comments, “it is not
enough simply to observe – he has to fuse himself with what he observes, …his animals always
seem to be on the move, or ready, at any moment to move.”
Working closely with the Lockbund Sculpture Foundry in Oxfordshire all the pieces are cast
using the lost wax method in either silver or bronze using a ceramic shell as limited editions.
The quality of this casting allows the artist’s manipulation of the clay to remain clearly visible in
the finished works, so that even a fingerprint can be seen. This is integral to the artistic process
as Mackie’s work is reliant on the virtuosity and spontaneity of his gestures “to capture what
can only be a momentary vision.”
Mackie has previously staged a number of successful international solo exhibitions, perhaps
the most notable being his 2012 show at Mallett in New York. Last year his work was also
selected to be displayed in Grosvenor Square and Oxford Street as part of the Cultural
Olympiad. Mackie’s work is held in the collections of both corporations and private individuals
around the world.
Through his sculptures he also helps to raise funds and awareness for charities including Tusk
Trust, and the Countryside Alliance. The artist comments: “I have always been passionate about
wildlife and one of the great advantages of what I do is being able to observe nature in its own
environment. Through my work, I hope to highlight not only the beauty of our natural world, but
also and perhaps more pertinently, how fragile our relationship with it is becoming.”
For further information please contact Paget PR: E: hermione@pagetpr.com, T: 020 7836 2703.
Notes to Editors
Hamish Mackie was born in 1973. He grew up on a livestock farm in Cornwall. He has been a sculptor
since 1996 and has works in public and private collections around the world. Public commissions
include Merrill Lynch, Hiscox Insurance, Barclays Bank, The National Trust, Woburn Abbey, Floors Castle,
and Sogo Hong Kong. His passion for sculpture began at school. He followed this enthusiasm for the
arts to Falmouth school of Art and Kingston University where he further developed his sculpting skills.
Mackie is a technically accomplished sculptor working closely with the Lockbund Sculpture Foundry,
and occasionally others, pushing the boundaries of casting metals such as bronze, silver and stainless
steel. Mackie offers a bespoke service to a variety of clients.
Knight Frank, J O Hambro Investment Management, the Countryside Alliance, Steppes Travel and
Haynes Hanson and Clark will be hosting Private Views during the Exhibition.
www.hamishmackie.com