The archive does not only contain letters and photographs but also a
large collection of sculptor's drawings. The Cathy de Monchaux
drawing is a particularly fine contemporary example. Although some
sculptors are as much draftsmen as they are sculptors Cathy de
Monchaux uses her drawings primarily as a tool to develop her
sculpture. The drawings are very similar in form to the finished work
but the impression the drawings give is quite different from her
sculpture. The use of fabric, often velvet, and metal together in one
piece seem to give something of a familiar effect. The work seem a
modern version of end of the century forms but they are at the same
time very contemporary in outlook. They also have a fleshiness about
them which in combination with the tal she uses comes with something
of a shock when one first sees them. In a recent talk at the
Institute the style was referred to as gothic prosthetics. I would
like to end today's entry with a quote from an article published in
the Tate Magazine (summer 1997) she said in an interview: "What about
art, what about creativity?" ... "I firmly believe that art is about
looking and about experiencing something, and it shouldn't need that
much defending." Quite a refreshing change from conceptual art?
