The weather was forecast to be warm and sunny and a great day to visit the gardens to see the sculpture and installations.
However, we've lost confidence in the BBC Weather forecasts ever since the Met. Office lost the contract to provide the weather forecasts. We now find ourselves quite often photographing the BBC weather app showing one thing for a specific location and the weather doing something completely different.
Yesterday was a case in point as the orange sun and the huge dust cloud descended on Kew as we walked around the gardens! I must confess we spent an awful lot of time just staring at the sky as it got darker and darker!
Below are some views of the various installations
- a sculpture exhibition which has theoretically finished (but is still there) and
- four installations by four different artists in Cedar Vista.
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| My favourite wood seat sculpture |
I'll touch on the Life in Death exhibition by Rebecca Louise Law later this week. Apparently it was very busy last weekend!
Sculpture
Kew Gardens is a brilliant location for a sculpture exhibition - if and when they are presented well.
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| Two figures near the Palm House |
Instead, all too often at Kew this Autumn, what I've found is:
- a very unhelpful barrier around the sculpture which completely spoils the effect of the sculpture; and/or
- placing an erect large announcement about what it is very close to the sculpture
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| How much nicer this sculpture would look without THAT NOTICE WHICH IS SO UNHELPFUL TO THE ART! |
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| Absolutely LUDICROUS barriers around the sculpture completely negating the effect the sculptor intended |
- absolutely no barriers - if it's not robust enough to be outside or touched then it shouldn't be outside at all!
- labels on a small flat tablet on the ground - in front of the sculpture - not sticking up and getting in the way. Or just a small number near the base - which correlates to numbers on a leaflet or an online listing which can be accessed within the garden (which is difficult as the broadband reception frequently borders on 'inaccessible').
I was also unimpressed with its treatment on the website:
- no reference to the exhibition
- no listing of the sculptures while they are/were installed within the garden
- no press release providing any details
My personal preference is for the sculpture related to botanical subjects - which I wrote about in Nuts and seeds - inside and out at Kew at the end of September.
I loved the bronzes by Anne Curry of the different forms that nuts and seeds take - so much more organic and relevant to a botanic garden!
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| Physalis Seed Pod (bronze resin) by Anne Curry |
I THINK the sculpture exhibition has now ended (on 15 October) although the sculpture can still be seen around the garden. Personally I don't quite see the point of going to all the trouble of having a sculpture exhibition for less than a month.
Sculpture in the garden in winter is great - and to my mind I'd like to see a lot more of it - robust and ready for the public and the weather - all over the autumn and winter months.
Artworks along Cedar Vista - until 29th October
The remaining artworks in the gardens comprise 16 site-specific artworks by four artists which are on display until 29th October.
Treelings
The Treelings by Woody Fox Willow are just plain weird - but I can see how they be great fun for children. Some small people rushed over to them and hugged them as we passed by yesterday. In fact, there was some serious twig hugging taking place just to the right of this photo involving very small children!
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| Plant-like beings - made from willow and dogwood - practicing tai chi by Woody Fox Willow |
About the Artist
Woody Fox is a sculptor based in Devon who creates figurative sculptures using natural materials such as willow and dogwood. He specialises in making animal forms and abstract plant shapes using the incredible natural colours that willow provides. He has exhibited widely across the UK as well as abroad and his work often has a quirky expression and humorous quality to it that engages the viewer. The sculptures for the exhibition are hoped to engage the public to becoming one with the pieces and to show the connection between humankind and the plant world.
Fungi Fascination
This comprises an installation of 'wall hangings' on trees along Cedar Vista. Three of them can be seen below. They're by Claudia Wenger and made of oil on canvas. I was left wondering as to whether they had been treated so they can hang outside.
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| Amanita Muscaria - Fly Agaric 120x180cm, oil on canvas |
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| Trametes Versicolor - Turkeytail 180x180cm, triptych, oil on canvas |
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| Ophiocordyceps Sinensis - Caterpillar Fungus 27x91cm, oil on canvas |
About the Artist
Claudia Wegner is an Austrian painter, ceramicist and mycologist based in Scotland. Her work encompasses the use of a variety of mediums, ranging from traditional oil paint to wood, clay and anything recyclable. Analysing society with a critical eye has always influenced her work, including addressing the environmental issues we face today. Yet, her true passion lies in the elusive world of fungi and their medicinal properties. She aims to unveil their hidden beauty, which she highlights in her large, detailed paintings.
Willow Sculptures
The willow sculptures by Julia Clarke are possibly the least impressive of the installations - but then they're also the simplest forms.
She is providing opportunities to learn about willow weaving at Kew Gardens at weekends during October - so two more weekends to go.
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| A very simple willow form |
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| Another willow sculpture |
About the Artist
Julia Clarke creates sculptures for indoor or outdoor spaces. She enjoys working with predominantly natural materials, mainly willow, both dried and living, wire, thread, paper, and ceramics. The work evolves slowly coming from an imaginary place. The rhythm of weaving and using tactile materials is very important to the whole process. The willow has its own character with evocative qualities. The work grows into dysfunctional vessels, encompassing space, playing with tension, form and scale.
Wooden seat sculptures
The wooden seat sculptures by Nigel Ross struck me as objects that could take up permanent residence in the gardens - fulfilling both a practical need and interesting alternative to the existing benches.
His sculptural benches and furniture, bridges etc are currently situated in woodlands, parks, gardens, schools, hospitals, gardens, and new developments across Britain, Europe and USA.
Maybe Kew Gardens should start offering people the opportunity to sponsor a seat sculpture rather than a bench?
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| A seat with a twist! |
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| The ever so slightly asymmetric form has great appeal - and is very practical too! |
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| More an interesting form that a seat to sit on! |
About the Artist
Nigel Ross is a self-taught sculptor whose art has developed naturally from a life working with trees. Starting from the parks of London, where he learned the skills of tree surgery, to the hills of Arran in Scotland, where he spent several years on the island fencing, planting and harvesting trees as a forest contractor. Ross seeks to save tree trunks from logging and planking, sculpting them into large abstract organic forms. Attempting to harness the energy and strength of the tree, his inspiration comes from an interest in Celtic and Pictish culture as well as contemporary art. Much of Ross’s work is functional sculpture and his benches have been commissioned throughout Britain and Europe as well as USA and Canada.
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