Tony Cragg Skull, 2017

Tony Cragg’s Skull (2017) forms part of a series of sculptures exploring this classic motif from the vanitas tradition, a vivid reminder of the transience of life and its pleasures. The sculpture does not outwardly suggest the shape of a skull, but its matrix of concave forms evokes the porous structure of bone and its outer surface is permeable to the surrounding environment. This interplay between positive and negative space becomes a key structuring principle, heightening the viewer’s awareness of their own relationship to space and the material world. As Cragg explains, ‘there exists a real psychological pressure and need for the viewer to see beyond the surface and […] provide a connection to the greater and more fundamental external and internal forces that make them.’ Skull is currently on view in the exhibition Tony Cragg at Houghton Hall, Norfolk, UK, until 26 September.