Although Yorkshire Sculpture
Park is quite near, this was my first visit.
Firstly we visited the
Underground Gallery to see an exhibition by pioneering American video
and installation artist, Bill Viola. We
were advised to let our eyes become accustomed to the dark, but we had to make
our way in total blackness to the screens showing people experiencing a variety
of deluges. It was a strange sensation
engulfed in the darkness and I bumped into walls and endured the antics of my
husband who managed to see his way.
The
extensive grounds are home to work by Henry Moore, Antony Gormley, Barbara
Hepworth and Andy Goldsworthy plus the smurf-like figures by KAWS but the
weather was so cold and many parts of the garden were cordoned off to protect the
lawns, we couldn’t stop for long.
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Driveside
Niki de Saint Phalle was born in France in 1930 and
grew up in the USA. After an early career as a fashion model, she studied
theatre and acting in Paris before giving this up to become an artist |
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Sophie Ryder's work is an exploration of the
female psyche and sexuality. She
frequently references the artist' s own body as it morphs with the powerful
energy and form of the hare.
   
The
Camellia House (c1812) A Grade II Listed building inspired by the lady of the
estate, Diana Beaumont
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Diana Beaumont (1765–1831) played an important part in the
development of the landscape of the park. She was the illegitimate eldest
daughter of Sir Thomas Wentworth Bt. (1726-1792) of Bretton Hall,
This
was by far my favourite of the whole visit with its large round-arched windows,
Tuscan columns and scrolled iron brackets
Yorkshire Sculpture Park is certainly worth a visit on a warmer day when you can stroll comfortably in
this 1500 acre outdoor gallery and maybe take a picnic.
Perhaps I am more a gardener than an appreciator of Art!
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Looks like an interesting place to visit, with some very unusual pieces of art.
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely unusual!
DeleteThe Camellia house would have been my favourite part, too! I am rather conservative when it comes to art and often can't fully appreciate the works of modern/contemporary artists, I'm afraid. But I am intrigued by your mention of "smuf-like figures". What are they?
ReplyDeleteKAWS is Brian Donnelly, the New York artist and designer of limited edition toys and clothing. If you Google him you can see examples of his work which go for silly money.
DeleteThanks; maybe I will, if it helps me to understand what smuf-like (or smuf) means. I've never come across the word and can't find it in any online dictionary.
DeleteOops! Typo should have read smurfs.
DeleteOh... I see! (I had to look them up, too, because in German their name is quite different.) The chubby little blue dwarfs with the white caps - we loved to play with them (made of rubber) when we were kids!
DeleteLooks interesting, but I think I must be another one who's a gardener than an appreciator of art as the camellias appeal more than the statues.
ReplyDelete