Moore at Kew

Friday, October 5th, 2007

Henry Moore at Kew

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I was planning a visit to the Henry Moore Foundation when I realised that a large-scale exhibiton of his work would be at The Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew. It is not the same as going to Perry Green as you do not get to visit the studios but being a busy (read lazy) fellow a trip to Kew was more convenient – Perry Green being open only from April to October each year.

Sculpture is obviously best viewed in person as you need to see it in-the-round. A photograph would never really do it full justice, unless you took several photos of each sculpture at hundreds of different angles. I have to admit, some of the sculptures were not very inspiring at all and these I shot in a straight-forward documentary manner. I have decided to show at least one each of the 28 sculptures that are on display, where only a handful of the more interesting ones show two or three different viewpoints. They are all in black & white save for a few at the end in colour to show the different materials used.

I should point out that even though the materials are important, I was more interested in the form of the sculptures, hence the black & white. This too being the reason why they are mostly close-up shots as I wanted to avoid showing the sculpture whithin the environment. Lovely as Kew is, sometimes the greenery just got in the way, especially when shooting for black & white. This also explains why some of the points of view are low angle so as to get as much sky and as few trees in the background as possible.

I know it defeats the purpose of showing you Moore at Kew, but Moore was more important than Kew for me.

Moore at Kew runs from 15 September, 2007 ’til 30 March, 2008. You can find out more on the Kew website. Information on the Henry Moore Foundation can be found on it’s website.

Three Piece Reclining Figure: Draped, 1975. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens
Large Reclining Figure, 1984. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens
Large Reclining Figure, 1984. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens
Large Reclining Figure, 1984. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens
Large Totem Head, 1968. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Reclining Figure: Angles, 1979. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Knife Edge Two Piece, 1962-65. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Recling Figure, 1982. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Large Standing Figure: Knife Edge, 1976. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Draped Reclining Mother and Baby, 1983. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
The Wall: Background for Sculpture, 1962. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Upright Motive No. 7, 1955-56. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Upright Motive No. 2, 1955. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Upright Motive No. 8, 1955-56. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Upright Motive No. 5, 1955-56. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Mother and Child: Block Seat, 1983-84. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Mother and Child: Block Seat, 1983-84. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Seated Woman, 1958-59. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Large Spindle Piece, 1974. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Large Spindle Piece, 1974. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Two Piece Reclining Figure: Points, 1969. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Double Oval, 1966. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Double Oval, 1966. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Double Oval, 1966. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Hill Arches, 1973. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Locking Piece, 1963-64. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Two Piece Reclining Figure: Cut, 1979-81. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Large Two Forms, 1966. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Reclining Figure: Arch Leg, 1969-70. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Oval with Points, 1968-70. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Draped Reclining Woman, 1957-58. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Large Upright Internal/External Form, 1981-82. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Large Upright Internal/External Form, 1981-82. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Goslar Warrior, 1973-74. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Reclining Connected Forms, 1969. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Large Reclining Figure, 1984. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens
Mother and Child: Block Seat, 1983-84. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Double Oval, 1966. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Hill Arches, 1973. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.
Reclining Connected Forms, 1969. Henry Moore, Kew Gardens.

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2 Responses

Hani Ahmad /

October 9th, 2007 at 10:08 am

Many of the images are quite beautiful, and I think they do Moore’s work, or rather the sculptures, justice. You’re right, of course, that one needs to appreciate scultpures personally and in the round. But I think this is a prerequiste for viewing any art. Also, I wonder if you would go again, let’s say in winter in a snow covered garden, if it snows this winter. I wonder how the sculptures would be viewed then etc. Thanks.

Raof /

October 9th, 2007 at 11:39 am

Ta for that. Yes I agree, all art should be viewed in person, but more so sculpture. I think the point I was trying to make was that because it is three-dimensional one angle of view would be completely different to another. Whereas something like a painting or a video is more or less the same at any viewing angle.

And to go again when it has snowed would be interesting. Certainly no harm in it.

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