University of Bolton's Two Forms goes on show

Two Forms (Divided Circle) on the grounds of the University of Bolton is a bronze sculpture consisting of two vertical bronze semi-circles forming a broken circle, each pierced by one large hole and welded to a bronze base.

It has emerged the piece of art has been loaned to a world-famous museum as part of an exhibition.

The piece was designed by Barbara Hepworth, who was born in Wakefield and lived in St Ives.

The sculpture was cast in 1969, alongside six numbered copies and another copy retained by the artist.

Copies of it reside in world-famous locations such as the University of Cambridge, Tel Aviv and London, as well as Bolton.

Bolton's copy of the 'Two Forms' sculpture by Barbara Hepworth (Image: Freda Wallace)

Purchased in 1970 by then director of Bolton Art Gallery, Vincent Smith, it was displayed in the entrance area of the museum and art gallery, later moving to a lawned area by the law courts on the junction of Moor Lane and Deansgate.

READ MORE: ‘Two Forms' work of art to return

The sculpture then moved to the front of Senate House at the University of Bolton. Its disappearance did not go unnoticed.

Freda Wallace, a 45-year-old artist from Farnworth, said: “When I saw it was missing, it kind of meant something, kind of jolted me.

Freda Wallace, who was inspired by Two Forms as a child (Image: Freda Wallace)

“I knew it had been moved to the university, but it was kind of like a hole in the ground, I was like ‘oh my God.’”

A University of Bolton spokesperson said: "The Barbara Hepworth sculpture has been temporarily removed from the front of Senate House on the university campus so that it can be displayed as part of the current Hepworth exhibition at the world-famous Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

ALSO READ: Facelift as sculpture heads home

"We expect the iconic sculpture to be back on the university campus towards the end of next month."

Freda, who works for North West Ambulance Service and the LGBT Foundation, said the artwork inspired her.

The empty place where the sculpture usually sits (Image: Freda Wallace)

She said: “When I went to school, I was catching a bus outside the Magistrates Court, and that sculpture was just outside the court.

“It’s quite a while since I first saw it, I would’ve been about 11 or 12 years old.

“I didn’t know anything about art, especially modern art.”

She continued: “It inspired me in the sense that it opened my mind to something unusual."

This is not the first time Bolton has been approached to loan pieces, its Egyptian collection has been exhibited and studied across the world.

“When I asked the teacher about it at school, they showed me a book about modern art. I was looking at a book of Picasso because of Barbara Hepworth.

“Because of that sculpture in Bolton, it got me into being an artist. That’s why I think public art is great.”