The mistake I made whilst visiting Yorkshire Sculpture park was not wearing wellies, causing many issues with my ability to balance whilst viewing many of the works….
With the background of the beautiful Yorkshire countryside, these sculptures live in harmony with the natural surroundings. This adds a new dynamic to the works in comparison to pieces that are placed against the white cube background of modern-day gallery spaces, changing the way people view them. An example of this are Giuseppe Penone’s works. Penone’s works relate to the natural world itself and by placing his works in Yorkshire sculpture park this connection can be increased. The choice to place these sculptures amongst nature results in the sculpture being consumed by its natural surroundings as well as provoking new meanings and conveying the sculptures beauty in an even more in-depth manner. I like how the sculpture park presents his work in both the setting of a gallery space as well as an outside space, allowing different responses from the viewer of his artwork. His work ‘Matrice’ spans 30 metres long across the gallery space and therefore is difficult to miss, this piece is a masterpiece with its intricate attention to detail, it shows the real beauty of Penone’s work and abilities as a sculptor.
Many of the works I came across in the park were unexpected, every corner I turned I witnessed a new type of sculpture completely different than the one I had seen moments before. Yet all these sculptures seemed to live harmoniously. A piece that kind of contrasts to the work of Giuseppe Penone is ‘Trees’ by Dennis Oppenheim, he like Penone had been inspired by nature yet took his work in a different direction. I like how by placing Oppenheim’s ‘trees’ in the park creates a stark contrast between the natural and artificial world but also intertwines them. This pieces spans across a corner of the park and is visible some distance away, enticing the visitor in with the movement and spirals of the sculpture. But up close it is clear to see all the parts of the piece, which includes baths, toilet seats and dog kennels. Almost like a floating junkyard. Against the bright blue sky of the day, the sculpture appeared quite beautiful and I enjoyed exploring it from different angles.
I think the beautiful thing about the park is that no matter where you are you can see the diversity of the sculpture. As well as this your location in the park can affect your perception of different works, as some you may see from the other side of the lake before you get a chance to see them up close and as you get closer your opinion on the piece sometimes changes. Jaume Plensa’s ‘Wilsis’ plays interestingly with perspective and uses the vastness of the park to its advantage. From a distance this piece seems rather ordinary in a sense, well except for the scale, however as you move closer its clear to see the extraordinary nature of the piece. The face is revealed to be flattened as you move around the lake. Plensa uses this sculpture to present a journey of discovery, exploring the idea that being human is complex.
Overall, it was interesting to visit a place like Yorkshire sculpture park that evokes a different response than viewing artworks in a gallery space. The range of sculptures in the park that explore the use of different materials and ideas creates a dynamic experience. The background of the Yorkshire countryside develops a calming atmosphere that allows visitors to feel connected to the works and discover a new side to sculpture in general.
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