The Royal Horticultural Society has announced a major exhibition of modern and contemporary sculptures at RHS Garden Wisley from 30 May to 1 December 2019.
Sculpture at Wisley 2019 will feature the work of six seminal 20th and 21st century artists to highlight the relationship between sculpture and the cultivated landscape in the first exhibition of its kind at an RHS Garden.
Curated by Susan Bacon, noted sculptor and wife of RHS President Sir Nicholas Bacon, the pieces on display will be carefully sited around the 240-acre garden to demonstrate a connection between the spirit of the works and their surroundings. Lady Bacon said, “Each piece of sculpture we have chosen connects to the landscape and becomes part of it. Sited within the ever-changing long views of Wisley, these huge pieces affect that change as well as opening the eye to see both the gardens and the sculpture in a different way.”
Dating from the 1950s through to the present day, the selection of sculpture offers a unique opportunity for visitors to view work by some of the most important modern and contemporary artists. Amongst the four Henry Moore artworks on display will be his vast Sheep Piece – only the second time this sculpture has been exhibited outside of the Henry Moore Foundation – and six pieces from the Lynn Chadwick estate will include Little Girl I, II and III sited together, and three of Chadwick’s series of Beasts.
Larger-than-life works by Phillip King and Henry Bruce will also take up temporary residence in the landscape of the flagship RHS Garden, in locations chosen to emphasize their dramatic scale. Following the opening of Wisley’s new Welcome building on 10th June, additional pieces viewable inside the new entrance area will be an instantly recognisable neon by Tracey Emin and maquettes of the Four Seasons by Philip Haas.
A self-guided map will lead visitors around the garden to discover not only the thought-provoking locations of the sculptures but also the world-class horticulture of the UK’s second most-visited garden.
Groups visiting the garden will be able to enjoy the artwork as part of their garden entry. For more information and booking enquiries please visit rhs.org.uk/groups or contact the groups team.
Image: Lynn Chadwick – Little Girl, Little Girl II and Little Girl III, 1987. Photo by Jonty Wilde.
