Western Morning News (Saturday)
Collection from talented artist
SVEN Berlin was a unique figure in the avant-garde art scene of post-war, 1940s St Ives. An exotically bohemian, multi-talented and yet deeply controversial artist and writer, who many feel was ostracised from mainstream British art, he spent the last third of his life with his great love Julia, prolifically painting, sculpting and writing.
David Lay Auctions in Penzance will be offering on April 7, not just the artworks that sprang from this love affair, but a lifetimes treasury of his artistic creativity; writings and manuscript material going back to the 1930s, decades of paintings, drawings and sculpture.
The sale will comprise of his entire studio contents, a remarkable, and not-to-be-missed auction of one of the most extraordinary, misunderstood characters of 20th century art.
Born in South-East London, Sven Berlin’s education and career path was as unorthodox as the man himself. Forced by financial circumstances to leave school at the age of 12, he began adult life as an adagio dancer, an art form now more or less extinct as are the music halls where it was mainly performed. Berlin was determined to become an artist and moved to Cornwall in 1938 to pursue that goal. War interrupted this, andhe took part in the D-Day landings and became a Forward Observer. The horrors he witnessed in this dangerous role affected him deeply. He wrote his moving, and much respected book ‘I am Lazarus’ about his wartime experiences.
He returned to St Ives after the war and was very much a key member of the fabled art colony there, being a founding member of the Crypt Group of young artists, along with Peter Lanyon, John Wells and Bryan Wynter and also of the Penwith Society.
Sven lived and worked in the ‘Tower’ a concrete building next to Porthgwidden Beach. He cut a dashing, bohemian figure and was well known to the town’s visitors, where he could often be seen sculpting outside.
He left St Ives in 1953 in a horsedrawn gypsy caravan, moving to the New Forest. Here he initially lived amongst the Gypsies who gave him a warm welcome and provided Berlin with a fresh source of inspiration for his art.
Thanks to the nurturing environment created by his new wife Julia, Sven’s prolific output of drawings, paintings, sculptures and writings – many of the latter lavishly illustrated by him, persisted. Sven Berlin ended his days in 1999, surrounded by nature in the deepest countryside he so loved, outside Wimborne in Dorset. Julia Berlin safeguarded her husband’s work and memory with some publications and exhibitions. Julia died last year, so this highly unusual studio collection comes to auction.
The sale can be viewed in person on Saturday, April 2, 9am-1pm and Mon-Fri April 4-6, 9am-5pm. The sale will start at 10am on Thursday and Friday April 7 and 8.
View the entire online catalogue at www.davidlay.co.uk.