YSP 2013
As October approaches it always reminds me to visit a couple of places of interest to me, perhaps not the greatest photography locations in the world, but I find them quite inspiring non the less.
I refer to a couple of sculpture parks, they are all the rage these days but I like to visit the Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) and Chatsworth house for the Sotheby’s Beyond Limits exhibition. The YSP is located some 60 miles away 1 mile north of Junction 38 on the M1, so just about an hour up the motorway. The drive up took longer than expected due to a number of roadworks and accidents, but that would give the weather time to clear, it was very grey, but some sunshine was promised.
There is no fee to enter YSP, and you can wander the 500 acres of parkland dotted with various installations, the main YSP buildings currently have a number of works by the late swiss artist Hans Josephsohn, and preparations for the upcoming exhibition by Amar Kanwar. The Longside gallery has number of pieces by Lucy and Jorge Orta based on the theme of water, its a 35 minute walk away through the parkland or there’s a free shuttle for those not into too much walking. The only charge is for the carpark, which has however gone up to £7.50 per car (ouch), but no so bad for a car load.
Your free to take photographs of all the outside pieces of works and there are a vast number so there’s bound to be something you will like, some of the works have the dreaded rope to stop you getting too close. Its also quite interesting to see various pieces of work appearing that have been at the Sotheby’s Beyond Limits in previous years, the obvious one being Buddah 2000 by Niki de Saint Phalle. I really find the sculpture inspiring and much of it you can touch and get a real tactile experience as well. I love the work by Sophie Ryder, that is one hell of a sexy rabbit. The weather never cleared but that made the mesh folly (basket7) by winterhorbelt all the more abstract, but my favourite this time was the mosaic octopus by Marialuisa Tadei.
Below are a few shots of the day. I’ve yet to go to this years Beyond limits, so more photos to take.
So go and treat yourself to a different artist experience.
Lester Woodward
