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Meet the family: Jim Broadbent unveils his quirky wooden statues Meet the family: Jim Broadbent unveils his quirky wooden statues
(about 1 hour later)
For a while Jim Broadbent imagined them as a troupe of European hippie circus performers who don’t get much work. Other times, the actor said, “I’ve thought they’re like all the directors I’ve ever worked with.”For a while Jim Broadbent imagined them as a troupe of European hippie circus performers who don’t get much work. Other times, the actor said, “I’ve thought they’re like all the directors I’ve ever worked with.”
Broadbent is talking about the dressed and painted wooden figures he has been quietly carving in his shed for the last six years. Seen publicly for the first time, they are going on display in London’s Royal Festival Hall for three months.Broadbent is talking about the dressed and painted wooden figures he has been quietly carving in his shed for the last six years. Seen publicly for the first time, they are going on display in London’s Royal Festival Hall for three months.
Some people will find them fun. Some, a bit creepy. “Disarming” and “remarkable” were descriptions used by early visitors on Friday. All of those are OK, said Broadbent. “They are not claiming to be anything other than what they are. If people don’t like them that’s all right but it is obviously nice if they do.”Some people will find them fun. Some, a bit creepy. “Disarming” and “remarkable” were descriptions used by early visitors on Friday. All of those are OK, said Broadbent. “They are not claiming to be anything other than what they are. If people don’t like them that’s all right but it is obviously nice if they do.”
Family and friends are the only ones who have seen his small, imperfect wooden figures until now. “People have always been intrigued, particularly if they haven’t seen any of them before,” he said. “There is a degree of shock. People think they recognise somebody and think I must have based them on certain people.”Family and friends are the only ones who have seen his small, imperfect wooden figures until now. “People have always been intrigued, particularly if they haven’t seen any of them before,” he said. “There is a degree of shock. People think they recognise somebody and think I must have based them on certain people.”
Broadbent has not done that, he insists. There are no Mike Leighs among them – although one grinning character has a resemblance to his friend and mentor, the late Ken Campbell. Broadbent has not done that, he insists. There are no Mike Leighs among them – although one grinning character has a resemblance to his friend and mentor the late Ken Campbell.
“They start reminding me of people sometimes and I pursue that,” he said. “I stick with it until the chisel slips and I go in another direction. They change a lot. I swap the hair around, the clothes around.”“They start reminding me of people sometimes and I pursue that,” he said. “I stick with it until the chisel slips and I go in another direction. They change a lot. I swap the hair around, the clothes around.”
Broadbent has been carving as a hobby for years and began the project after coming across a lump of wood with a protruding branch resembling eyes and a nose.Broadbent has been carving as a hobby for years and began the project after coming across a lump of wood with a protruding branch resembling eyes and a nose.
The actor was also inspired by crudely carved figures on altarpieces he saw in the Cluny museum in Paris – it helped liberate him to think his figures did not have to be perfect or finely finished.The actor was also inspired by crudely carved figures on altarpieces he saw in the Cluny museum in Paris – it helped liberate him to think his figures did not have to be perfect or finely finished.
He has since made 21 wooden figures which he crudely paints, dresses and gives real human hair cut from wigs. “They have become increasingly realistic, from being very caricacture-ey they are becoming more naturalistic.” He has since made 21 wooden figures which he crudely paints, dresses and gives real human hair cut from wigs. “They have become increasingly realistic, from being very caricacture-ey they are becoming more naturalistic,” he said.
Broadbent is one of Britain’s best-loved actors, known to all generations – whether as Horace Slughorn in the Harry Potter films, a regular in Leigh’s work, or for the performance for which he won an Oscar for best supporting actor, John Bayley in Iris. Broadbent is one of Britain’s best-loved actors, known to all generations, whether as Horace Slughorn in the Harry Potter films, a regular in Leigh’s work, or for the performance for which he won an Oscar for best supporting actor, as John Bayley in Iris.
He cares what people think of his sculptures, although not quite in the same way he does for his day job. “This is a hobby, I’m sure it’s therapeutic. It stimulates me, gets me up in the morning so it’s a passion as well,” he ssaid. “I’m keen to get back to it, quite keen to see which way he/she is going to develop. I love getting better at it.” He cares what people think of his sculptures, although not quite in the same way he does for his day job. “This is a hobby, I’m sure it’s therapeutic. It stimulates me, gets me up in the morning so it’s a passion as well,” he said. “I’m keen to get back to it, quite keen to see which way he/she is going to develop. I love getting better at it.”
His work is appearing at the Southbank Centre as part of its Festival of Love, one of a number of installations on display until 31 August.His work is appearing at the Southbank Centre as part of its Festival of Love, one of a number of installations on display until 31 August.
He feels that it is an appropriate setting. “They are people, and people depend on love and give love and need love and maybe these people love each other.”He feels that it is an appropriate setting. “They are people, and people depend on love and give love and need love and maybe these people love each other.”
They have been called “the People” but they could, Broadbent said, just as easily be called the characters or family or usual suspects. “Even the critics,” he joked. “They are quite judgemental some of them.” They have been called “the People” but they could, Broadbent said, just as easily be called the characters or family or usual suspects. “Even the critics,” he joked. “They are quite judgmental some of them.”
Broadbent carves the characters from found wood and expects to continue making more. Another recent development has seen him photograph them individually in outdoor locations – the beach, in the snow and in the Lincolnshire Wolds near the home he shares with his wife, painter Anastasia Lewis. Broadbent carves the characters from found wood and expects to continue making more. Another recent development has seen him photograph them individually in outdoor locations: the beach, in the snow and in the Lincolnshire Wolds near the home he shares with his wife, painter Anastasia Lewis.
The figures do not have names, but they inevitably become characters for Broadbent. One bald-headed, mustachioed figure has the look of a dessicated 19th-century Russian aristocrat. The figures do not have names, but they inevitably become characters for Broadbent. One bald-headed, mustachioed figure has the look of a desiccated 19th-century Russian aristocrat.
The sculptures are dressed largely in second-hand children’s clothes and Broadbent admitted surprise that more people haven’t spotted him visiting charity shops and buying outfits, probably thinking “what a stingy grandfather”. The sculptures are dressed largely in second-hand children’s clothes and Broadbent admitted surprise that more people hadn’t spotted him visiting charity shops and buying outfits, probably thinking “what a stingy grandfather”.
Or maybe they have? “I don’t go on the social media, you never know what you’ll find. It’s dangerous.”Or maybe they have? “I don’t go on the social media, you never know what you’ll find. It’s dangerous.”
• Jim Broadbent’s People, part of the Southbank Centre’s Festival of Love, can be found on level four, green side, of the Royal Festival Hall.• Jim Broadbent’s People, part of the Southbank Centre’s Festival of Love, can be found on level four, green side, of the Royal Festival Hall.