'Wave'

To get the week off to a good start me and my sister decided to go to Yorkshire Sculpture Park yesterday. There are a couple of exhibitions in their final weeks at the park and I wanted to catch them before they moved on - 'Henry Moore: Back To A Land' and 'Laura De Santillana and Alessandro Diaz De Santillana'.

I found the Santillana's glass work beautiful and calming helped along by the serene setting of the refurbished 18th century chapel. It was a very warm day and we chose a secluded little window seat in the balcony to rest and do a little people-watching.



HS-YSP, 2011-15

As we walked down towards the river we had a surprise that made the trip extra special - the installation was underway for a brand new exhibit. 'Wave' is from the original installation 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' which could be seen at the Tower of London in Autumn 2014. This act of memorial, created to mark the centenary of the outbreak of war, is to be preserved for the nation at the Imperial War Museums but until then we are incredibly privileged to have it on show here in Yorkshire.

Men at work
 

Poppies cascading down to the river
 



Planting poppies

 

 

This huge crane was used to lower the poppies over the bridge and was ideally placed for a spot of bungee jumping but the workmen were very focused on the task in hand. The exhibition opens officially on 5th September. As we walked further on up the hill, the sun burst through the clouds, outer layers of clothing were shed, and we were treated to a field full of red poppies.

 

I often bemoan the fact that I don't live closer to London and all the amazing galleries there are to visit, but I am so incredibly lucky to have the ysp just down the road. It's a wonderful blend of two of the great passions in my life - nature and art.