Spiralling Skywards – sculpture exhibition at Nymans
| June 1, 2011 | to | September 10, 2011 |
Spiralling Skywards – contemporary sculpture exhibition part of project to revive the arts at Nymans
The exhibition features six highly polished metal contemporary sculptures displayed around the garden and house ruins. The sculptures are inspired by geometry and pattern in the natural world.
Exhibition curator Romily Meredith said: “Spiralling Skywards is the first in a series of art projects planned here at Nymans. They are designed to build on the creative legacy of the extraordinary Messel family who have lived here from 1890 and created one of the most significant flower gardens of the 20th century.”
The Messels were and still are an incredibly creative family. Members of the family have made important contributions to gardening and garden design, stage, costume and film design, interior design, photography and furniture design. Their bold, playful and experimental approach is apparent in the garden at Nymans. In fact Nymans was described by Muriel Messel as a “series of bold experiments”.
Romily continued: “The Messels’ spirit of innovation is still at the heart of what we do at Nymans today. We are already a world leader in the area of green and sustainable gardening, and now we are looking to revive the property’s connections with the arts community.
“We are keen to build relationships with local artists and organisations, and to tap into the enormous creative wealth of experience and audiences that are on our doorstep in London and Brighton.”
People visiting the garden during the exhibition will first encounter, Brighton based artist, Steve Geliot’s ‘Spire’ in the pinetum. Reflecting the gothic architecture of the house, as well as the form of the nearby trees, ‘Spire’ creates a dazzling array of glittering reflections.
Mohammed Qasim Ashfaq’s aluminium ‘Rod’ pierces the lawn at an angle on the far side of the main house, “like a still-quivering thunderbolt hurled into the turf” (Alastair Sooke, The Telegraph).
Two ‘Alliums’ and ‘Seedheads’ by sculptor Ruth Moilliet can be viewed from inside the entrance to the house. These are celebrations of some of the most magnificent sculptural forms in the plant kingdom, resonating with the summer planting of the garden.
Later in the summer Nymans will also host Art in the Garden. Every Friday in August, between 10.30am and 3.30pm, there will be an exciting range of activities, and materials for adults and children, of all ages and levels of experience, to experiment with, and/or borrow to take around the garden at their own leisure. The activities will be accompanied by a variety of artist demonstrations.
