Carl Plackman: Obscure Territories

Carl Plackman rarely discussed his work, which, spanning sculpture, drawing and installation, refuses to be defined. During his long overdue exhibition at Pangolin London, Studio International spoke to his former student, Mark Dunhill, to get some insights into the man behind the art

Often described as an “artist’s artist”, Carl Plackman (1943-2004) was ambitious and full of ideas. When asked at the end of an interview in 1986 what he would like as his epitaph, he replied: “I just want to make a good piece of sculpture. I still think I haven’t done it. The trouble is trying to say what that could be – it’s very difficult …” Plackman rarely talked about his work and kept his ideas private. He has been hailed as the “godfather of British conceptual art” and Alison Wilding speaks of Plackman’s work as being her first encounter with “installation”.

This solo exhibition at Pangolin includes a range of Plackman’s drawings alongside a number of key sculptures, in particular Bachelor of Arts (1977), which has never been shown before.

Plackman was a generous teacher and many of his students have gone on to become major names in British contemporary art, including Tony Cragg, Damien Hirst, Liam Gillick and Alison Wilding. Studio International spoke to Mark Dunhill, dean at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts, London, and an artist in his own right, who was taught by Plackman at the Royal College of Art in the 70s.

Carl Plackman: Obscure Territories
Pangolin, London
9 September – 17 October 2015

Interview by ANNA McNAY
Filmed by MARTIN KENNEDY