Now in its ninth year, Art in the Garden at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens has become recognised, in its own right, as one of the most exciting exhibitions of contemporary craft and sculpture in the UK. Over 150 pieces of art and design from new and established artists are given the opportunity to show their work in a beautiful outdoor setting within the 180 acre Gardens.
Rebecca Newnham at the Hillier Gardens
Artists Statement 2008
Underground Art + Design and the Harold Hillier Gardens near Southampton have kindly offered me access to all areas of their research facilities. The resulting body of work will be shown predominantly at ‘Art in the Garden’ at the Hillier Gardens this summer, and in shows in Wimbledon, Rutland and Salisbury. This work explores the concept of energy, photosynthesis and geometry within a language of botanical structures. In particular it focuses upon the production of energy within plants and it is a metaphoric exploration of triumphant life via symbolic botanical form. Previously I have looked to pollen, seeds, fruit and stages of botanical growth as symbols of auspicious vitality. Geometry and numbers are fundamental to genesis and are intrinsic to this group.
The enormous and world famous collection of oaks contained in the gardens have inspired two large sculptures, 5m and 6m tall; they consider the profile of the characteristically lobed leaves of the Oak. As leaves are the solar panels of trees they demand a place amongst my new work. Other leaf inspired sculptures are from the Gingko, the ancient and only member of a group of deciduous conifers. They have a distinctive fan shape and turn golden in the autumn, which is why the gingko is commonly known as the maiden hair tree. I am also planning to exhibit a sculpture from this group of Gingko at Artdejardin, a summer sculpture exhibition in Rutland, and at Wimbledon Fine Art, to accompany an exhibition of Pascal Magis’s paintings. All sculptures are constructed using marine technology and are covered with a reflective,coloured glass skin
Another group of work to be seen at The Hillier Gardens are developed from 4 armed carbon nano crystals, which are found in solar panels. These amazing man made crystals generate electricity when photons from sunlight hit them. They have inspired me to explore the concept of how energy is created and the role of carbon in the world. My preoccupation focuses on the idea of plants generating energy from sunlight via their leaves, plant growth and expiration.
Other sculpture considers the structure of the carbon molecule and the role of carbon within photosynthesis and growth. One form the carbon molecule takes is the Bucky ball, essentially a geometric form made up from 20 hexagons and 12 pentagons and is one of the forms carbon takes when it is created in the stars. It is familiar to most as a typical football. One large sculpture will be shown at Salisbury Museum in The Close by Salisbury Cathedral before coming to The Hillier Gardens for the rest of the summer.