Art on Campus: Countermovement by Michael Warren

Not unlike many students, the sculpture Countermovement by Michael Warren cuts a lonely figure reclining on the grass by the rugby pitch. Donated to Trinity in 1985 by the American Irish Foundation, it appears to have been lost over the years amidst new building projects and an increasing number of fences.

The twisting, angular form of the piece is in marked contrast to the flowing, natural boughs of the copse which encircles it. Whereas the trees rise ever upwards on the vertical plane, Countermovement tumbles outwards below eye level, reminding viewers of a hunk of lumber. Nevertheless, the sculpture is connected to the site through its untreated wooden form. Leaving the material in its natural state allows the piece to blend in with the landscape whilst retaining its unique character. This approach towards material is perhaps not suited to the wet Irish climate, which has weathered the sculpture significantly.

A relationship between site, object and human is crucial to the work of Warren. The grand scale of the piece endows it with a distinctive physical presence, inviting interaction and confrontation from individuals occupying a shared space. At least it would were viewers not kept a generous distance away from the sculpture by uninviting metal railing and signs demanding that the grass be left untouched. Despite being intrinsically linked to its location at the centre of the copse, Countermovement is isolated by the current state of the site.

The artist has remarked that the meaning of his work is rooted in paradox and mystery. This ambiguity allows viewers to form their own conclusions about the sculpture, should they take a moment to look.

 

Art jumble

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