Elisabeth Frink (1930–1993) was a leading figure in British sculpture. She studied at the Chelsea School of Art and was part of the post-war group of British sculptors who became known as the ‘Geometry of Fear’ school. Many artists within this group, had seen active service, seeking to express the horrors of war within their work.
Frink was brought up in rural Suffolk, near to an active airbase, where as a child she experienced the machine gun attack of a German fighter plane. Warfare and seeing film reports of concentration camps had a powerful impact on Frink, who was an active supporter of Amnesty international. The conflicting horror and heroism of war, political oppression, compassion and spiritual strength are themes to which she frequently returned.
The artist had early and continued artistic success and made mainly figurative sculptures, mostly of male and animal subjects. She was more concerned with representing mankind than with portraits of individuals. Frink’s portrayal of the human condition was not restricted to the depiction of figures of despair or hate; much of her work was also imbued with optimism.
As the daughter of a cavalry officer, many of Frink’s male role-models were soldiers and pilots. Frink witnessed first hand the horrors of war as planes were sometimes shot down near her home. Her close proximity to the realities of conflict led her to create images of anguish and hatred, but she was also inspired by the heroic nature and self confidence of the young men fighting the war.