Whilst we were in New York Botanical Garden a few weeks ago we managed to see and experience all four seasons in one day...
Four Seasons is NYBG's current special installation of four gigantic garden sculptures, each being 15 feet tall, to be found in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory Courtyard and will run until the 30th of March next year. The sculptures are the creation of artist Philip Haas and was inspired from the series of paintings of the same name done by Italian renaissance painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo. We're lucky enough to see some of the originals in art galleries in Vienna and Paris on previous trips and it's great to see some of his paintings transformed into giant, vividly colourful, three dimensional sculptures.
Each piece, made of fibreglass represents one of the four seasons and are composed of small elements pertaining to the season it represents grouped together to form a unifying figure which in this case are human busts.
It was so sunny, bright, and warm then outside the conservatories that when we were actually looking at the sculptures it made staring at them very difficult because of the brightness (the season of summer was the dominant one that day) and we just took pictures hoping that they will turn out fine anyway. Fortunately that was the case and later that evening we were able to study the sculptures in better detail via the photos.
Talk about gigantic and 'grotesque' garden art (in reference to Arcimboldo's style and not a negative connotation)! All sculptures were executed well but I'll have to say I'll always have a soft spot for 'Spring' and 'Summer'.
Mark :-)
Four Seasons is NYBG's current special installation of four gigantic garden sculptures, each being 15 feet tall, to be found in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory Courtyard and will run until the 30th of March next year. The sculptures are the creation of artist Philip Haas and was inspired from the series of paintings of the same name done by Italian renaissance painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo. We're lucky enough to see some of the originals in art galleries in Vienna and Paris on previous trips and it's great to see some of his paintings transformed into giant, vividly colourful, three dimensional sculptures.
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| Spring |
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| Spring - a handsome fella isn't he? |
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| Summer |
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| Summer |
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| Autumn |
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| Autumn |
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| Winter |
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| Winter |
Mark :-)
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
Oh, wow. I'm partial to winter myself. Thank goodness for artists!
ReplyDeleteYay for artists indeed!
DeleteI don't much like them, but they ARE impressive.
ReplyDeleteThey were fun and interesting too but it's fair to say that they won't be everyone's cup of tea..
DeleteInteresting to see indeed!
ReplyDeleteYep!
DeleteOh what a brilliant representation of the seasons which has bought a smile to my face on a most drab autumn morning. Thanks :) Love the small details such as spring's earrings. Winter looks as if he is indeed sleeping. I wonder what will happen to them after the end of March.
ReplyDeleteInteresting question Anna, I am wondering myself...
DeleteGoodness, they must provoke a lot of comment, you can't exactly avoid them! I wasn't liking them very much, finding them faintly sinister, until I got to winter, who I love. Even though in many ways he is the most sinister.
ReplyDeleteThese pieces you cannot ignore and does provoke reactions from anyone who sees them.
DeleteOh that is so good for them to make sculptures of those paintings. Now i am reminded of a photo by Arcimbolo in a poster from FAO given by a friend. When we transfered office i forgot to take it from the wall. It was supposed to be a sentimental gift from a friend, am now sad!
ReplyDeleteAhhww, hope you get something similar soon.
DeleteNow those are different and I actually like them for it. Spring is spectacular, but I think I have to second the grotesqueness of Winter. Something made me keep looking at it. :)
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
Winter looks a character indeed Cher :)
DeleteUnusual sculpture! I think I like the old man winter! Jeannine
ReplyDeleteI am seriously blown away! Great photos!
ReplyDelete