Derek Shiel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Derek Shiel
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Painter, sculptor, and writer Derek Shiel
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| Born |
Derek Alexander George Shiel
April 18, 1939 Dublin, Ireland
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| Died | July 13, 2017 (aged 78) Little Venice, London, England
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| Nationality | Irish |
| Education | Fettes College, Edinburgh |
| Occupation | Painter, Sculptor, Writer |
| Known for | Sculpted Sound |
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Notable work
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David Jones: The Maker Unmade, with Jonathan Miles |
Derek Shiel (born April 18, 1939 – died July 13, 2017) was a talented artist from Dublin, Ireland. He lived in London and was known for many things. Derek was a painter, a sculptor, a writer, and even a film-maker. He created unique art and shared his ideas with the world.
Contents
Discovering Derek Shiel's Life
Early Life and Education
Derek Shiel grew up in Dublin, Ireland. He went to school at Fettes College in Edinburgh, Scotland. Later, he studied art at the Edinburgh College of Art. He was a very good student there. He won a special scholarship called the Andrew Grant Scholarship for two years. He also earned a Diploma in Art. After that, he received a post-graduate studio and a scholarship to travel. He used this to visit the United States of America.
What Did Derek Shiel Do?
Derek Shiel started his career by teaching art. He taught at the Berkshire College of Art and the West Sussex College of Art. He also lectured at the City Literary Institute in London. He loved to talk about art, especially about the artist David Jones. He also led workshops on his "Sound Sculptures."
Later in his life, Derek worked as a landscape gardener. He also helped people as a psychotherapist for many years.
Creating "Sculpted Sound"
One of Derek Shiel's most famous projects was called Sculpted Sound. This was a group of twenty metal sculptures. Derek was the artist who made them and directed the performances. These sculptures were special because they could be used as musical instruments. They were played like percussion instruments in concerts. They could also be shown as beautiful art pieces.
Derek got the idea for Sculpted Sound after hearing a piece of music by John Cage. He also found old metal parts in his father's electrical business. He used these parts to make his very first sound sculptures.
From the late 1980s, Sculpted Sound became well-known. They performed in many places, like the William Blake Festival in London. They also had exciting shows like "Futurism Updated" in 2009. Derek curated this event, which means he organized and presented it. It celebrated 100 years since the Futurist Manifesto was published.
Besides performances, Derek's sculptures were shown in art exhibitions. He was an "Artist-in-Residence" at the Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art in London. He also had solo exhibitions in places like Gallery Oldham and the Festival of Sound in Cork, Ireland.
You can even hear Sculpted Sound on recordings. One of them is called A New Guide to Sound Sculpture and Invented Instruments Vol.1.
Writing Books and Plays
Derek Shiel was also a talented writer. He started by writing for the theatre. He also wrote an essay for a book called Fathers and Sons. This book was about how fathers influenced their sons.
He wrote several books about the poet and painter David Jones. Some of these books include David Jones: The Maker Unmade and David Jones: Ten Letters. He also wrote a book about another artist, Arthur Giardelli.
Directing Films
Derek Shiel also made films. He wrote and directed a documentary called In Search of David Jones: Artist, Soldier, Poet (2008). This film explored how David Jones's experiences in World War I affected his famous poem, In Parenthesis. The film featured interviews with important people like art critics and poets.
He then co-directed David Jones Between The Wars: The Years of Achievement (2012). He completed the trilogy with David Jones: Innovation and Consolidation (2014), which he wrote and directed by himself.
His Paintings
Derek Shiel was a painter too. He used acrylic paints to create both realistic and abstract artworks. His paintings have been shown in galleries since the 1960s. You could see his art in Scotland, England, Switzerland, and America. His style was modern and used bright, expressive colors.
Theatre and Puppets
For over thirty years, Derek Shiel wrote and directed plays. He was asked to adapt a famous story called The Overcoat for the stage. He also created and directed his own shows, like Which One of Me? and Landing Site.
He also worked a lot with puppet theatre. He designed puppets and painted costumes for puppet shows. He even adapted a story by the Brothers Grimm called Iron Hans for a puppet production. His sound sculptures were sometimes used as music for puppet shows, like a production of Manfred by Byron.
Derek Shiel's Works
Films He Made
- In Search of David Jones: Artist, Soldier, Poet (2008), directed by Derek Shiel.
- David Jones Between the Wars: The Years of Achievement (2012), co-directed by Derek Shiel and Adam Alive.
- David Jones: Innovation and Consolidation (2014), directed by Derek Shiel.
Music Recordings
- A New Guide to Sound Sculpture and Invented Instruments (FMR, CD80-0501, 1997)
- FMR Sampler (FMR, Cover-mounted with Avant magazine)
