Barbara Hepworth’s celebrated cast bronze sculpture Dual Form has been carefully relocated to Kresen Kernow in Redruth. This temporary move ensures the sculpture’s protection during the Guildhall Renewal Project, while keeping it on public display for the community and visitors to enjoy.
Dual Form will return to its position outside St Ives Guildhall once the forecourt works are complete, as part of the Guildhall Renewal Works. The Guildhall Renewal Project is one of nine St Ives Town Deal funded projects. These enhancements will include a level access entrance and a redesigned, welcoming portico, creating a more accessible and vibrant space in the heart of Street-An-Pol. These improvements aim to revitalise the area and provide an inviting outdoor space for all to enjoy.
Kresen Kernow, Cornwall’s state-of-the-art archive and records centre, now temporarily hosts Dual Form. Housed in the former Redruth Brewery, this facility opened in 2019 and offers research areas, exhibition spaces, and an accessible environment. It preserves over 1.5 million records spanning 850 years, celebrating Cornwall’s rich history. The Town Council extends its gratitude to Kresen Kernow for facilitating this relocation.
Barbara Hepworth is one of the most influential sculptors of the 20th century. Her works, such as the monumental Single Form outside the United Nations in New York, are globally recognised. Closer to home, Dual Form stands as a testament to her artistic vision and connection to St Ives, where she lived and worked.
Hepworth gifted Dual Form to St Ives in 1968 following her award of the Freedom of the Borough, an honour she shared with fellow artist Bernard Leach. She personally selected its position outside the Guildhall, and during the current renovation, meticulous planning has ensured its exact placement will be maintained when it returns.
The Town Council enlisted a specialist sculpture-moving team, Sculpture Transport UK, with extensive experience in handling significant artworks to safely transport Dual Form. This complex process included templating the sculpture’s base to ensure its future plinth matches precisely.