FOUR SEASONS Sculptures by Philip Haas /© Phil Skinner Photography
The Four Seasons, a collection of larger-than-life busts by contemporary American sculptor and filmmaker Philip Haas, will go on display at RHS Garden Wisley this spring for its major 2020 art exhibition. Opening to the public on 9 March until 30 September, the exhibition will give visitors the opportunity to see the sculptures on show in the UK for the second time ever.
Art lovers who visited Wisley’s inaugural sculpture exhibition in 2019 may recognise The Four Seasons from the smaller maquettes that were displayed in the Welcome building. But this year’s exhibition will showcase the full-size sculptures, offering a bold new perspective. The 15ft tall fibreglass heads are the three-dimensional interpretations of Renaissance paintings created by Italian artist Giuseppe Arcimboldo in the late 16th century. Each sculpture resembles the different seasons in a human form, rendered in exuberant and thought-provoking arrangements of seasonal fruits, vegetables, flowers and crops.
Melissa Hackney, Groups Sales and Marketing Manager of RHS Gardens said, “We had great feedback from groups last year on our Sculpture exhibition, so we’re thrilled that this new installation will be on display until the end of September. RHS Garden Wisley is a delight whenever you visit, and this stunning new exhibition will enhance the experience still further, especially given that the cost is included in our normal garden entry rates for groups.”
RHS Garden Wisley Curator Matthew Pottage and Philip Haas together considered and selected settings for each piece to encourage visitor interaction with the sculpture. While often sited together in previous exhibitions, the separate locations at Wisley will allow each piece to be appreciated individually within the landscape, with their extraordinary scale matched by Wisley’s grand vistas.
Matthew Pottage, RHS Garden Wisley Curator said, “The maquettes were hugely popular with people of all ages – how could you fail to be enchanted by this verdant vision of Spring, or caught in Winter’s unflinching gaze?
“Naturally we were delighted for the opportunity to showcase the full-size artworks in the garden and we know our visitors will be just as excited to experience them as Philip Haas intended. Wisley’s unique landscapes offer exciting new ways to view the works, and the sculpture will take on a different character as the garden moves through the seasons.”
For more information on RHS Garden Wisley 2020 art exhibition, please visit the website.
