Clarity

Hilliers Arboretum, of which my mother is a member, is holding a sculpture session at the moment. They have some really amusing, interesting, beautiful and downright gobsmacking items. The setting for this and the weather was perfect - warm and sunny with cool breezes and a constantly changing sky. Handy as a lot of the installations incorporated glass and mirrors.



That object in the foreground upon closer inspection appeared to be a pollen particle I believe. The use of mirrors was lovely as it reflected the green and blue all around it.



We quickly realised that the use of mirrors was being explored thoroughly by one of the artists, and also brushed silver metal. These I thought particularly lovely. I thought they really showed at their best in the sunshine with the colours of the garden glowing around them.



I loved the small fern sculpture that I found hiding away in the undergrowth, as hidden and unassuming as the plants themselves. They rewarded you if you gave them more than a passing glance - the white ceramic texture was lovely and the small glass windows lit them subtly if you bent down to look closely.



Our joint favourite though was a tall mirrored spire which a full-length picture could just do no justice to. It was set in front of a stand of trees which the wind was moving beautifully, and the movement made the mirrored spire come to life. The base was made very interesting by it's pebbled surround and the reflections of the clouds and sky in it as you stepped up close was stunning. I cannot imagine it looking better in any other position or setting. I found myself walking around and around it just looking at the constantly changing play of colour. It was really fantastic.





I highly recommend visiting this show. I believe that they are holding one each year. If sculpture in gardens is always this much fun, I think it will become a habit.