Gurr Johns, in collaboration with curators Thorp Stavri, is proud to present Topping Out, a solo exhibition by sculptor Julian Wild. This captivating display unveils new sculptures, installations, and works on paper, furthering Wild’s profound exploration of physics, materiality, and form. Wild’s latest creations combine vibrant industrial colours, precarious structures, and polished surfaces, occupying a space between precision and mishap. These works blur the boundaries between strength and vulnerability, questioning the dynamics of failure, tension, and the interplay of function and imagination within the built environment.

At the heart of the exhibition lies Folly, a striking sculpture assembled from chaotic I-beam off-cuts and crumpled stainless steel bars, evoking both instability and strength. Positioned as an altar-like centrepiece, the sculpture is surrounded by an installation of Wild’s Crush series, offering viewers an immersive experience as they navigate the space.

Wild’s works on paper made using wax and fountain pen ink reinterpret elements of the sculptures, transforming these industrial structures into abstract, gestural compositions that emphasise the dynamic interplay between rigidity and fluidity. Complementing these works, his new glass sculptures introduce elements of fragility and transparency, both deepen his exploration of the tensions between strength and vulnerability. These pieces are distinctly physical, elemental, and gestural, evoking movements like folding, tilting, and toppling found within the sculptures themselves.

With this exhibition, Wild transitions from large-scale commissions to smaller, more intimate works. These works draw on the metaphor of “topping out,” a traditional builders’ rite marking the placement of the final structural element at the top of a building—a symbolic moment of completion. This new body of work delves into themes of success and collapse, fostering a dialogue about the delicate thresholds between stability and uncertainty.

Topping Out offers a fresh lens through which to engage with Wild’s practice, inviting contemplation of how materials, forms, and their inherent tensions shape our understanding of the constructed world.

PRESS

Interview with FAD Magazine