Leon Underwood (1890-1975)

In 1945, Leon Underwood went on a trip to West Africa for the British Council. On his return, the artist wrote three books on West African art and largely abandoned carving and painting in favour of increasingly exuberant bronze sculpture which he cast himself. Joy as it flies captures the artist’s newfound technique as he folds back the skin of the sculptures to accentuate their volume.

'He who binds to himself a joy
Doth the winged life destroy
But he who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in Eternity’s sunrise'
(William Blake, Eternity)