Sep 24, 2007

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London

I’ve just returned from a trip to the Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew more often abbreviated to Kew Gardens. The many shades of green in the grasses and the trees are a delight, as are the structures one comes across almost accidentally, like the Japanese Garden, the pagoda, the Temple of Arethusa, and now, and for the next six months, the Henry Moore Exhibition at Kew.

Henry Moore said that his work should be exhibited in a landscape setting, and Kew Gardens lends itself perfectly to this idea. These monumental works, 28 in all, are on show at Kew’s unique 300 acre World Heritage Site until the end of March 2008. The Henry Moore Foundation has curated the exhibition and has selected a combination of sculptures that have never been brought together before.

I was bowled over by the exhibition. It has been superbly well designed and visitors are subtly directed around the Gardens to enjoy the sculptures which are set against a variety of striking backdrops, from the formal gardens to lawns and majestic trees. I am keenly aware too, that the changing colours of the seasons (not to mention the changing light), from autumn’s reds and golds, through winter’s starkly bare branches to the new fresh green of spring, are bound to alter perceptions. This means that I have to schedule 3 more trips to Kew Gardens to see the exhibition in different lights. No hardship there.

Henry Moore was one of the 20th century’s greatest sculptors and he took his inspiration from nature. An opportunity such as this, to view these huge works in the setting which he would have delighted in, is a once in a lifetime’s chance. I consider myself very lucky to have been one of over 3 million visitors to Kew this year.