Enjoy a 'staycation' in England with a visit to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park near Wakefield. If on vacation in London, with an under four-hour drive from London, you can enjoy a day of walking, nature and spectacular art in this renowned sculpture garden, which features some of Great Britain's and international artists. Pets are welcome, ice cream is served, and there is plenty of land for the little ones to run around in.
Summer holidays often encourage emotions not necessarily associated with beautiful weather, time off, and vacations. It can be challenging for some people to live without an agenda or schedule; for others, it may be challenging to cope with childcare, work and the pressing financial matters that come with school holidays. For me, as my children are grown, summer can often be a pretty gloomy time when I am flooded with memories of when the children were small, and summertime was full of wonder and possibilities.
At those moments, I try to lean into what I most love to do to give my mind peace. As I love to travel, enjoy walking and appreciate art, visiting one of the country's many sculpture parks and gardens is an excellent way to combine the things I love to do while appreciating the mild temperatures and breathtaking natural beauty of Great Britain. Recently, after a challenging June and July, I visited the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and the Hepworth Gallery near Wakefield, where I have had on my travel to-do list since being introduced to the art of Barbara Hepworth nearly 30 years ago.
Barbara Hepworth (1903-1975) was a prominent British sculptor and artist known for pioneering modern sculpture. Her career spanned several decades, during which she developed a distinctive style characterised by organic forms, abstract shapes, and the innovative use of materials such as stone, wood, and bronze.
She was known for her 'Pierced Forms', where she created voids or holes in the pieces strung through, making lights and shadows. Her most notable work is 'Single Form,' a bronze sculpture outside the United Nations building in New York City.
The Hepworth Gallery has many original works by Hepworth and other artists working in a similar vein, as well as full-sized prototypes for several works, including 'Winged Figure.' This sculpture, installed in 1963, still graces the facade of the John Lewis Department Store on Oxford Street in London.
Hepworth is a featured British artist, along with Henry Moore and Damien Hirst, in the permanent collection at the Yorkshire Sculpture Garden. Her collection of nine bronze totems,' The Family of Man,' represents the collective human experience and the interconnectedness of people throughout the stages of life.
Created between 1970 and 1972, the series has been shown in several locations but found a permanent home at the YSP, where viewers are encouraged to walk among them to gain a greater appreciation for their representation of the continuum of life.
Britain's most well-known sculptor, Henry Moore, has a significant representation at the YSP. The 'Reclining Figure' series, 'Large Totem Head,' and 'Draped Seated Woman' are among the large bronze pieces set around the rolling hills of the 500 acres of grassland, forest and wetlands. Anthony Gormley, Britain's foremost living sculptor and creator of the famed 20-metre-tall 'Angle of the North, shows a fun little piece at the YSP. Standing at the top of a tall plinth that looks like a dead tree, 'One & Other' is a confined, solitary figure that invites viewers to contemplate the relationship between the individual and its surrounding environment.
Damien Hirst is one of Britain's most prominent and controversial artists, as his work often considers the body and its relationship to life and death. His pieces at the YSP include 'The Virgin Mother,' a 33-foot tall representation of a pregnant woman, with one side of her body anatomically exposed to reveal the fetus and internal structures, and 'Charity,' a 23-foot sculpture inspired by a 1960's charity collection box that features a young girl with a collection box, teddy and her leg in a brace. Both pieces examine the fragility of life, the human body's complexities, and the question of compassion and social awareness.
Being of a certain age, I enjoyed seeing one of Robert Indiana's iconic 'LOVE' statues. Having started as a design for a 1964 Christmas card for the Museum of Modern Art in NYC, the iconic stacked four letters found Pop Art representation in many artistic mediums, including the aluminium and steel sculptures found in cities worldwide.
I spent an entire day at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, which covered nearly 500 acres. If one wanted to move slower and enjoy the art and nature in greater detail, one could easily split a visit to YSP into two trips. Walking was mostly level, though there were sweeping lawns, forest paths, bridges and a few hills to navigate, which may require extra thought for those who struggle with walking or fitness. Dogs are permitted on a lead. There is a cafe and several indoor featured exhibitions to enjoy at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
Other sculpture parks worth noting are:
Storm King Art Center, New Windsor, New York, USA
Covering 500 acres in the Hudson Valley, Storm King showcases large-scale sculptures and installations by artists such as Alexander Calder, Richard Serra, and Maya Lin.
Hakone Open-Air Museum, Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Japan's first open-air museum features over 120 sculptures by artists like Henry Moore, Rodin, and Miró, set against the backdrop of the scenic Hakone mountains. The museum also includes indoor galleries and a Picasso Pavilion.
Gibbs Farm, Kaipara Harbour, New Zealand
This private sculpture park hosts an extraordinary collection of large-scale works by renowned artists such as Anish Kapoor, Richard Serra, and Andy Goldsworthy, integrated into the dramatic landscape of rolling hills and coastal views.
Vigeland Park (Vigelandsparken), Oslo, Norway
Home to over 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland, this park within Frogner Park features the famous Monolith, a towering column of intertwined human figures, and other sculptures that explore themes of human existence and relationships.
Fundació Joan Miró, Barcelona, Spain
This museum and sculpture garden dedicated to Joan Miró includes works by the artist and other contemporary sculptors. It is set in a beautifully designed garden that complements the art and architecture.
Nek Chand Rock Garden, Chandigarh, India
Created by Nek Chand, this garden features sculptures made from recycled materials and industrial waste arranged in a labyrinthine series of interconnected courtyards, waterfalls, and pathways.
Ekebergparken Sculpture Park, Oslo, Norway
This contemporary sculpture park offers works by artists like Salvador Dalí, Louise Bourgeois, and Tony Oursler, set in a forested hillside with views over the city and the Oslofjord.
Park Güell, Barcelona, Spain
Designed by Antoni Gaudí, Park Güell is a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring colourful mosaics, organic architectural forms, and imaginative sculptures that blend seamlessly with the landscaped gardens.
Naoshima Island (Art Site Naoshima), Kagawa Prefecture, Japan
Known as Japan's "Art Island," Naoshima hosts several contemporary art installations and museums, including works by Yayoi Kusama, James Turrell, and Lee Ufan.
These sculpture parks blend artistic expression and natural beauty, providing visitors with unique experiences that transcend traditional museum settings. Sculpture parks are a great way to spend some meditative time appreciating art and complex human thoughts, get a little exercise, and enjoy the weather, whatever the season.
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