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The Head of Invention
The Head of Invention
The Head of Invention
The Head of Invention
The Head of Invention
The Head of Invention
The Head of Invention
The Head of Invention
The Head of Invention
The Head of Invention

© trustees of the Paolozzi Foundation, licensed by DACS 2024. Image credit: Jennette Russell / Art UK

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Notes

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Title

The Head of Invention

Date

1989

Medium

bronze

Measurements

H 200 x W 300 x D 229 cm

Accession number

W8_JR_S015

Work type

Sculpture

Work status

extant

Access

at all times

Signature/marks description

top of head: EDUARDO PAOLOZZI / 1989

Inscription description

base of neck: THOUGH HUMAN GENIUS / IN ITS VARIOUS INVENTIONS / WITH VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS / MAY ANSWER THE SAME END, / IT WILL NEVER FIND AN / INVENTION MORE BEAUTIFUL OR / MORE SIMPLE OR DIRECT THAN / NATURE, BECAUSE IN / HER INVENTIONS / NOTHING IS LACKING / AND NOTHING IS SUPERFLUOUS. / LEONARDO DA VINCI plaque: the head of invention / Eduardo Paolozzi / Eduardo Paolozzi made The Head of invention for Terence Conran in 1989. Paolozzi’s original inspiration was the head / of James Watt, inventor and manufacturer of steam engines. / The text, attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, is a reflection on / the nature of design. Thanks to the generous support of / the Paolozzi Foundation, the sculpture, which once stood in / front of the Design Museum’s original home by Tower Bridge, / was moved here in 2016.

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Located at

Kensington High Street, Kensington

W8 6AG

Located in front of the Design Museum, 224–238 Kensington High Street.