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SUNLIGHT: Roger Ackling at the Henry Moore Institute

Maja Lorkowska, Exhibitions Editor
Roger Ackling, Voewood 2011–12
© Estate of the Artist / Courtesy Annely Juda Fine Art, London

SUNLIGHT: Roger Ackling at The Henry Moore Institute in Leeds, Leeds Until 22 June 2025 Entrance is free — Visit now

The Henry Moore Institute is currently home to the most comprehensive exhibition of the work of artist Roger Ackling (1947-2014) whose work defies obvious categorisation thanks to his unusual methods and choice of materials.

His objects, which were often pieces of driftwood or found wooden objects like forks and clothes hangers, were made by burning – the artist focused sunlight through small hand-held magnifying glass to scorch repeated, regular lines into the surface. The resulting pieces have a calm, quiet quality that perhaps communicates the moment of making itself – the process would’ve required very specific conditions and a lot of patience, to say the least. The artist used only what he could find and what nature itself provided him with, making for an extremely sustainable way of working.

SUNLIGHT: Roger Ackling exudes both quietude and mystery, with the sun-scarred artefacts becoming objects of unknown purpose.

SUNLIGHT: Roger Ackling at The Henry Moore Institute in Leeds, Leeds Until 22 June 2025 Entrance is free Visit now

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