Private Passions

Phyllida Barlow


Listen Later

The artist Phyllida Barlow shares her passion for music that reflects her sculpture, in its defiance of convention and delight in surprise.

For years Phyllida Barlow was so desperate for people to see her sculptures that she would leave them on the street or in disused factories; or she would install them in friends' houses, using pianos and ironing boards as plinths.

Initially overlooked by museums and galleries, she was in her sixties when she found widespread recognition - in the last decade she's been invited to exhibit all over the world, and has became a Royal Academician, a CBE, and the recipient of numerous awards. Her 2014 exhibition at Tate Britain was unforgettable - she filled the cavernous Duveen Galleries with huge, gravity-defying pieces made out of timber and scrap materials which appeared to be about to topple over or to be on the point of collapse. And in 2017 she received the ultimate accolade of representing Great Britain at the Venice Biennale.

She talks to Michael Berkeley about finding success in later life, how she juggled life as a teacher, artist and mother of five, and the challenges of constructing monumental installations. She chooses music by Birtwistle, Wagner, Janacek, Webern, and Messiaen, pieces which reflect her fascination with size, scale, texture and unexpected beauty.

Producer: Jane Greenwood

A Loftus production for BBC Radio 3.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Private PassionsBy BBC Radio 3

  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4

4.4

33 ratings


More shows like Private Passions

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,595 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,055 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,459 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,803 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,750 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,042 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,090 Listeners

Desert Island Discs by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs

1,978 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

477 Listeners

Profile by BBC Radio 4

Profile

106 Listeners

Last Word by BBC Radio 4

Last Word

45 Listeners

Front Row by BBC Radio 4

Front Row

131 Listeners

Bookclub by BBC Radio 4

Bookclub

243 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,193 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

723 Listeners

Cyber Hack by BBC World Service

Cyber Hack

1,609 Listeners

Add to Playlist by BBC Radio 4

Add to Playlist

33 Listeners

This Cultural Life by BBC Radio 4

This Cultural Life

83 Listeners

Young Again by BBC Radio 4

Young Again

48 Listeners

Off Air with Jane & Fi by The Times

Off Air with Jane & Fi

158 Listeners

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth by Gyles Brandreth / Plain Jaine Media

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

484 Listeners

Desert Island Discs: Archive: 2016-2018 by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs: Archive: 2016-2018

27 Listeners

Radical with Amol Rajan by BBC Radio 4

Radical with Amol Rajan

52 Listeners

A Good Read by BBC Radio 4

A Good Read

42 Listeners

ill-advised by Bill Nighy by EYEPOD Studios

ill-advised by Bill Nighy

483 Listeners