Yorkshire Sculpture Park

splendid day out at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park with a good friend from Leeds. We used the day of summer well, and really enjoyed being in the wonderful park. Living oop north now means I haven't been to the Sculpture Park for ages and it was really nice to go and revisit some old favorite pieces and see some new stuff,

I particular liked Ai Weiwei's Circle of animals/ Zodiac Heads - slightly amused expressions but also a little bit sinister - maybe just because it heads on sticks - but a fab installation in a perfect location and interestingly the other piece I really liked was his Iron Tree which was perfectly placed in juxtaposition with the Chapel, lovely rusting modern art with traditional architectural back drop.

We wandered the park, all the old favorites were still there, the Gormley's, Hepworths and the Goldsworthys all weathering well and looking stunning in their placement against a beautiful sunny Yorkshire back drop. Complimented by new interesting additions - check out Zak Ove's new work in the lower garden - and as always the gallery's housed a visiting thought provoking collection by and German artist, Tony Cragg.

'Spring' by Tony Cragg

'Secretions' by Tony Cragg

detail of 'Secretions' by Tony Cragg - how fab is this?

These were amazing large sculptural objects made from a large range of materials and fashioned into beautiful organic shapes and columns. the wooden ones were incredible, being made from layered plywood put together and then worked to produce huge beautiful finished piece which looks like its made form one piece of wood. They are extremely tactile- inviting to touch - NOT ALLOWED - but non the less tempting.

The Sculpture Park is a very glorious place to be on our rare summer days its setting is so tranquil and the expanse and vista mean it never looks busy even though the car park was full and there were school trips enjoying picnics and imitating the colorful Gaudi inspired Niki de Saint Phalle's 'Buddha' statue. what a lovely place to enjoy the sun!!!

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