“Sculpture is an art of the open air,” said Henry Moore, whose monumental bronze pieces made him famous around the world. “Daylight, sunlight, is necessary to it, and for me its best setting and complement is nature.” Moore and his fellow Yorkshire sculptor Barbara Hepworth were pioneers of integrating contemporary art into the natural world. They carved out a space for modern sculpture in green landscapes, framing, playing and conversing with the surrounding environment. Both grasped that in an ever-changing setting, with light and seasonality in constant motion, sculpture – although structurally static – takes on a life of its own, enhancing and connecting to nature.
As is the case within the home, sculpture for gardens can be decorative or functional – incorporating lighting fixtures, say, or seating – taking in the disciplines of architecture and design. The rise of studios tackling these forms, plus interiors and landscaping too, means the boundaries have started to blur.
One such is Studio Ossidiana in Amsterdam, which specialises in merging art and design – making sculptural pieces in stone or steel that double, for example, as gathering spots for birds. Dutch design superstar Sabine Marcelis has recently created several pieces for installation in the great outdoors – sometimes functional, always breathtaking, they include a minimalist fountain in the Vondelpark in Amsterdam (a collaboration with local stone specialist SolidNature) and a minimal mirrored piece called Honing Passage on the Norfolk Art Way Trail.
