WORK OF THE WEEK: Francis Upritchard, Eels in Mud, 2021
Francis Upritchard
Eels in Mud, 2021
Bronze
150 x 230 x 50 cm
59 x 90 ½ x 19 ⅗ in.
Eels in Mud dominates the steps of the pond at Roche Court. The sculpture's unique form and curious atmosphere creates a gripping focal point, transforming the space into one of eerie mystery. Enjoyed at the park by staff, visitors and students, this zoomorphic sculpture has become known as 'the eel man', due to how the sliding of eels out of the water and up excrescent limbs render him to be a collection of eels taking on human form. In both the eels and the figure, the texture of the skin is rough, sagging and shrivelled, almost as if they were made from fabric. This is the result of Upritchard’s unique process of working, as many of her bronze pieces begin with a 1:5 maquette made from balata rubber, a material that Upritchard has been working with since discovering it in a market in Brazil. Balata rubber is a precious, natural substance which becomes malleable when heated and must be manipulated in a cold-water bath. The pliable maquettes gain form and character, as her hands combine imagination and intuition at great speed, allowing the works to retain a sense of immediacy and movement. Francis Upritchard's figurative sculptures are drawn from a range of inspirations, blending references from mythology, folklore and science fiction to create nuanced and often uncanny works of art.
Francis Upritchard studied at the Ilam School of Fine Arts in Christchurch New Zealand, graduating in 1997. After relocating to London in 1998, Upritchard co-founded the artist-run space, the Bart Wells Institute with painter Luke Gottelier. In 2009, she represented New Zealand at the 53rd Venice Biennale alongside painter Judy Millar. Recent exhibitions include Any Noise Annoys an Oyster at Kunsthalle Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark in 2024 and her solo exhibition, Sing Siren, at Kate MacGarry last year. Upritchard's work is currently featuring in The Shelter of Stories: Ways of Telling, Ways of Dwelling exhibition at Compton Verney, running till the 22nd February, 2026.
Francis Upritchard
Eels in Mud
Sited at The Pond, Roche Court, July 2025