Peter Schipperheyn
(b. 1955 - )
Grip of Time
1978
Wood, fibreglass, polyester coating
7m high
This curious work of monumental proportions is affixed to the exterior wall of Kew Library. The work is comprised of a fibreglass hand, fibreglass handle and a wooden telegraph pole. Once known as Senility, Grip of Time was created by Peter Schipperheyn in the early stage of artist's career. Schipperheyn has since established an international reputation in figurative sculpture, specialising in marble.
Peter Schipperheyn created Senility whilst still a student at the Caulfield Institute of Technology. In 1978 the sculpture won the inaugural Abercrombie Sculpture Prize, a competition that was open to final year students. In 1979 Senility was installed against the exterior wall of Abercrombie Galleries in Johnston Street, Collingwood.
Schipperheyn recalls the experience on Instagram: ‘I won the inaugural Abercrombie Sculpture Prize, Competition open to final year art students. I looked at the site, the big blank brick wall and thought to myself I’ll use the wall, put a work up high, so it’ll be hard to vandalise! And you’ll see it coming up Johnston street. Laurel Abercrombie loved the work. Put the gallery on the map so to speak.’
When Abercrombie Galleries closed a new site for Senility was sought, and Mrs Laurel Abercrombie, a long-term resident of Kew, presented the sculpture as a gift to the former City of Kew. At the time of its installation on the Kew Library, the sculpture was renamed Grip of Time. In 1997 the work was restored by the artist and a new pole for the work was donated by Citipower.
Artwork location
This work is located at Kew Library (corner of Cotham Road and Civic Drive, Kew), on the exterior wall facing Cotham Road.