The creative practices of artists Phillip King and Alexandre da Cunha are set to intertwine in September, during a week of practical tête-à-tête at The Royal Society of Sculptors in London’s South Kensington. The exhibition’s title, ‘Duologue’ – defined as ‘a play or part of a play with speaking roles for only two actors’ – alludes to this unique ‘live collaboration’.
More a performance rehearsal than typical exhibition, the show’s format will provoke an impulsive interchange between the duo and their respective methods of making. The polished final result is superseded by an emphasis on experimentation.
A former president of the Royal Academy, Phillip King initiated a new era of British post-war art, staging sculpture as a full-body experience. Captivated by the possibilities of gravity, he enticed audiences with his signature ‘cones’ and diverse use of materials. Tackling brutalist and surrealist themes through clay and plaster, he subsequently phased in fibreglass moulds that later gave way to vibrant blends of steel, newspaper, wood and slate all emanating from his north London studio, a former stamp factory.
Public Sculpture (pouff 6), 2014, by Alexandre da Cunha. Courtesy of the artist and Thomas Dane Gallery.
‘Duologue is a play with just two people in it – however this particular play has no script, which gives us maximum freedom for trying new ideas,’ says King. ‘In order to start I personally will bring a lot of the type of things and material I have in the studio and put it all in a corner... and then we will see what happens next.’
Da Cunha operates in a sculptural system of minimalism, interrupted by the isolated and often-humorous repurposing of found objects. The artist taps into his native Brazil’s neo-concrete urbanism, channeling the eclectic architecture of cities such as Rio de Janeiro. ‘This project is a great opportunity for me to engage with Phillip King’s practice and open doors to a dialogue about our works,’ explains da Cunha, who hopes audiences will find a new perspective on both of their practices.
Once the weeklong performance has elapsed and the artists have left, the Dora House studio space will remain exactly as the artists have left it, with every physical remnant intact and on display until 2 December. Privy to each intimate moment of conception, the exhibition will allow observers to snoop behind the curtain at uncharted processes, embracing each creative detour en route.
Ikebana V, 2018, by Alexandre da Cunha. Courtesy of the artist and Thomas Dane Gallery.
X Plode Maquette, 2013, by Phillip King. Courtesy of the artist and Thomas Dane Gallery.
Dunstable Reel Maquette, 2013, by Phillip King. Courtesy of the artist and Thomas Dane Gallery.
Morning XXIII, 2018, by Alexandre da Cunha. Courtesy of the artist and Thomas Dane Gallery.
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Royal Society of Sculptors website
ADDRESS
Dora House
108 Old Brompton Road
London SW7 3RA
-
The best way to see Mount Fuji? Book a stay hereAt the western foothills of Mount Fuji, Gora Kadan’s second property translates imperial heritage into a deeply immersive, design-led retreat
-
12 fashion figures reveal their style resolutions for the year aheadAs 2025 comes to a close, we ask the Wallpaper* style community – from Willy Chavarria and Stefan Cooke to Craig Green and Torishéju Dumi – their New Year's resolutions
-
Glass designer Silje Lindrup finds inspiration in the material's unpredictabilityWallpaper* Future Icons: Danish glassmaker Silje Lindrup lets the material be in charge, creating a body of work that exists between utility and experimentation
-
Out of office: The Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the week'Tis the season for eating and drinking, and the Wallpaper* team embraced it wholeheartedly this week. Elsewhere: the best spot in Milan for clothing repairs and outdoor swimming in December
-
Out of office: The Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekFar from slowing down for the festive season, the Wallpaper* team is in full swing, hopping from events to openings this week. Sometimes work can feel like play – and we also had time for some festive cocktails and cinematic releases
-
The Barbican is undergoing a huge revamp. Here’s what we knowThe Barbican Centre is set to close in June 2028 for a year as part of a huge restoration plan to future-proof the brutalist Grade II-listed site
-
Out of office: The Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekIt’s wet, windy and wintry and, this week, the Wallpaper* team craved moments of escape. We found it in memories of the Mediterranean, flavours of Mexico, and immersions in the worlds of music and art
-
Each mundane object tells a story at Pace’s tribute to the everydayIn a group exhibition, ‘Monument to the Unimportant’, artists give the seemingly insignificant – from discarded clothes to weeds in cracks – a longer look
-
Out of office: The Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekThis week, the Wallpaper* team had its finger on the pulse of architecture, interiors and fashion – while also scooping the latest on the Radiohead reunion and London’s buzziest pizza
-
Out of office: The Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekIt’s been a week of escapism: daydreams of Ghana sparked by lively local projects, glimpses of Tokyo on nostalgic film rolls, and a charming foray into the heart of Christmas as the festive season kicks off in earnest
-
Wes Anderson at the Design Museum celebrates an obsessive attention to detail‘Wes Anderson: The Archives’ pays tribute to the American film director’s career – expect props and puppets aplenty in this comprehensive London retrospective
