Thomas Houseago

Spreading across over five metres of the gallery's floor, Houseago's monumental figure is resolutely flat – a combination of a head and hands formed from iron rebar and a torso and limbs made from boards of Tuf-cal plaster outlined with restless graphite sketches. Yet despite its raw, unfinished quality and its skeletal, two-dimensional form, the reclining figure seems to press into the ground with such force that it looks as if it might rise up from its supine position at any moment to tower over the viewer.

Houseago's masks vary in size from small wall works, to large visages balanced on wooden pedestals. Characteristic of Houseago's sculptures, each mask bears the mark of its maker; grooves from the artist's hands provide texture to the already rough surfaces of the works. Yet, despite the conspicuous presence of the artist, these ghostly faces seem to possess a character of their own. Their hollow gaze returns that of the viewer with a unique combination of aggression and vulnerability.

A new bronze relief will also be on view in Zurich. An exercise and exploration of formal composition, Houseago's reliefs range from single panels to triptychs reminiscent of altarpieces from the Northern Renaissance, with each section defined by a rigid, rectangular border. Houseago fills the reliefs with sturdy trees with numerous snake-like branches and muscular human figures standing in traditional poses, all confined within the strict space of the panels.

Concurrent with his exhibition in Zurich, Houseago will also present two exhibitions of new works at Hauser & Wirth London, Savile Row which will be on view from 7 September to 27 October 2012.