Edward Dutkiewicz Dancer 5, 1994

The self-taught late British artist Edward Dutkiewicz (1961-2007) explored exuberant colour and energetic compositions within his too-brief practice. Dutkiewicz was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at age twenty-one and created his work from his painted wheelchair, from which he embodied ambitious storytelling and bold image-making. Dancer 5, 1994 is part of a series of sculptures depicting an abstract figure, constructed from an arrangement of orange oval shapes, contrasted with red and blue curved lines reminiscent of moving limbs. The rhythmic form conveys a sense that the figure is in constant motion, with repeated shapes throughout the sculpture. There is an ambiguity of whether the dancer is at the beginning, middle, or end of their performance, creating a timeless cycle to the piece. 

Theatrical and performative, the work exemplifies a loop of repetition and Dutkiewicz's desire to surround himself with others, real or imagined. The raw and energetic sculpture questions the boundaries and limits of physicality in the repeated figure while reflecting the artist's deep-rooted drive to build an ambitious cast of characters and their stories.