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Materials & Techniques

Mother and Child, bronze, 1942

‘Mother and Child’ is one of two small bronzes in the exhibition that were originally carved from potatoes with a pocket knife while Karl Duldig was on kitchen duty in the 2nd AIF 8th Employment Company in 1942. He cast them into plaster and they were cast in bronze at a foundry by The Duldig Studio after his death. During his time at the internment camp at Tatura and while serving in the Australian army, Duldig, by necessity, experimented with whatever materials he could find.
‘Crouching’ was also carved from a potato.

Look closely at ‘Mother and Child’ and ‘Crouching’ when you visit the exhibition. What features remain from the material from which they were initially carved? In the ‘Crouching’ figure, can you find the ‘eye’ of the potato on the top of the head of the figure?

Both these bronze piece follow the traditional methods of bronze casting. List each stage in this process. How did the artist finish the final piece? In what ways did Duldig’s method of finishing his bronzes differ from other artists?

How is it possible to make several casts of the same sculpture?

Why do you think that the sculptures were made in their current form after Karl Duldig’s death?

These sculptures are good examples of ‘carving’ in sculpture. How is this different from ‘modelling’?

As you explore the exhibition, make lists of those pieces that are ‘carvings’ and those that are derived from ‘modelling’.