Antony Gormley's "Model": His Biggest Ever Work Unveiled (PICTURES)

Antony Gormley unveils his new exhibition in London

Antony Gormley is one of the most successful living British artists, having won the Turner Prize, as well as being the creator of some of the most iconic contemporary British art. For the majority of his career he has been best known for his human figure installations. His work depicts the human form using a variety of materials and in a range of locations, his most famous work being the Angel of the North, a 66ft sculpture that looks over the A1 just outside Gateshead in the North East. 

Gormley shows the immense scale of his exhibition

His latest work, unveiled on Tuesday (27th Nov. 2012) is an indoor exhibition of installations called 'Model' at the White Cube Gallery in Bermondsey, London. Despite the human figure not appearing at all, he has referred to the work as a "body", according to the Guardian, and one which viewers can 'enter and explore'. Apparently, the entire structure uses 100 tonnes of steel, which creates a labyrinthine experience, with little light, which evocatively induces an aspect of fear. "I like the idea that there has to be a little bit of terror," Gormley said. "I want to give back to the people their own sovereignty and their own ability to decide for themselves the limits of their experience."

Much of Gormley's exhibition holds very little light.

"We are in a time when the sort of things people will do in art galleries is changing all the time. We're not surprised to have people running, jumping, dancing and I think this is right. Galleries and museums are no longer the august 'guardians of taste' presenting to people the masterpieces of the already known parameters of beauty. They are places where human nature and human behaviour has to be tested, extended, challenged," he continued.

"What is the f---ing excuse for making art that isn't about allowing us to re-examine our own lives - that's what art is for. Art is a sharpening stone for our own vitality, I have no interest in art as an object of exchange - I am interested in art as a transformative catalyst for life."

Examples of smaller work in Gormley's Exhibition

Gormley's website describes the exhibition as "investigat[ing] our experience of architecture through the body, and of the body through architecture." It all sounds great, but judging simply by these preliminary shots the whole thing looks a bit boring. However, like much of Gormley's work, and as he's explained, the experience is of prime importance. And on that note, go see it! The exhibition itself kicks off tomorrow (28th Nov. 2012) and runs until February 10th 2013.