Behold South of the River. It is not just a sculpture. It is a conversation between art, architecture, and the echoes of cultures far away.
South of the River was created by Bernard Schottlander in 1975-76. It stands as a testament to the belief that art should be an integral part of our daily lives. Eugene Rosenberg commissioned the sculpture for Becket House. Rosenberg was a modernist architect. He felt strongly that art enriched architecture. He also believed that art gained something from its setting.
Notice the sweeping curves and organic form of South of the River. Schottlander drew inspiration from photographs taken by his friend Eva Meyerowitz. She was an anthropologist and ethnographer. The sculpture seems to echo the shape of large, twisted bronze earrings. Fulani women in Africa wear these as part of their wedding rituals.
Bernard Schottlander was born in Mainz, Germany, in 1924. His family were Jewish art enthusiasts. They owned pieces by Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky. Fleeing the rise of the Nazis, Schottlander came to Leeds in 1939. He worked as a welder during the Second World War. He attended evening classes in sculpture.
After serving in the British Army in India, Schottlander studied sculpture and industrial design. He described himself as a designer for interiors and a sculptor for exteriors. South of the River exemplifies this perfectly. It merges industrial materials with artistic vision.
South of the River is made of stainless steel. The sculptures stand balanced on projecting legs. A central base is set into concrete paving slabs. Each form mirrors the other. The two central curves face west and east. The larger curves face each other. They stand 4.8 meters tall.
Take a moment to observe the polished granite block. It sits on the north-west corner of the lawn. Steel plaques are affixed to it. They are inscribed with black capital letters. The inscription reads South of the River by Bernard Schottlander. It also notes his birthplace and that British Steel cast it.
Consider the plaque on the western-most sculpture’s leg. It reads Distillery, Brewery & Chemical Engineers. John Dore & Co. Ltd fabricated the stainless steel. They were coppersmiths from Essex. The date is 14 March 1976.
South of the River is more than just an aesthetic contribution. It embodies civic renewal and social progress. It stands as an emblem of the enhancement of public spaces through art.
This Grade II listed sculpture represents a collaboration between Schottlander and Rosenberg. It also reflects Schottlander’s interest in adorning public spaces with his art. South of the River invites us to reflect on the interplay between different cultures. It also encourages us to appreciate the beauty of form and material.