Isamu Noguchi at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Published by Andrew Leigh July 17th, 2008 in Reviews.I was lucky enough to get along to the opening of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s latest exhibition today. My wife Lynda worked there for ten years as Artist in Education and got the invite. It was good for her to get back and see some old friends, albeit in her new wheelchair.
I didn’t know much about Isamu Noguchi before today - ha, ha - actually I didn’t know anything. Wow - did this guy know how to make beautiful sculptures.
Much of what was on show was not as ‘finished’ as the monumental sculpture in the picture, which is in the beautiful grounds of the park. They are often hunks of stone with, apparently, minimal but well chosen working. Sometimes these pieces seemed to hint at a figurative source - a flint tool, a dinosaur’s skull, perhaps, and sometimes they seemed purely abstract.
But everything he put his hand to oozed sensuousness and personally I like the rocky stuff the best. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many pieces that were so beguilingly attractive to the eye. I can’t wait to get back and see them when it’s less crowded.
As you might guess from the above ‘review’, I tend to react to sculptures from the gut rather than at an intellectual level, and I’m certainly not going to attempt anything like that here.
What I will say is this - if you are near enough to do so then give yourself some inspiration by getting along to this exhibition. It’s running from now until February and it’s by far the biggest collection of Noguchi’s work ever to be shown in Europe. And if you aren’t close enough for a trip to gorgeous Yorkshire (I get more hits from the US than the UK, so I know it’s too far for a day’s outing for y’all) - well, go visit something else that will give those creative juices a good shaking.
* This was also the opening for Sarah Staton’s Shucks, Sucks, Sticks, Stacks - brilliant title, but unfortunately our wonderful British weather and Lynda’s fading energy levels means we’ll have to save that for another day. What we heard about it sounded very interesting and we’ll get back to see the park and her exhibition soon, and hopefully in the sunshine - is that too much to ask?
* Finally, hi to Harvey Alexander, a printmaker from Harrogate who we had an enjoyable chat with over a glass of bubbly. Nice to meet you Harvey.
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Hi Andrew
Really sorry not to have met you and Linda at the opening yestoday. I am still working in education up at the park and have Linda to thank for the introduction. i drove past Heely Bank on the off chance of catching somebody in the other day and was saddened to see it all boarded up! Hopefully catch you out and about
Kindest regards
Moya x
Hi Moya
Yes it would be nice to have met you there. We’re coming back up to the park again very soon, so hopefully Lynda and myself will be able to catch you then.
There’s still talk of Heeley Bank Studios re-opening, but I’d personally be very surprised if it happened. It’s really sad.
Lynda sends her love - Andy
Hey Moya!
I was just searching on Isamu’s work and saw your comment here! How very wierd? Saw your glass work a while ago and really liked it..
Anyway - small world. Nice to see a familiar name
Tim
I was wondering how big this sculpture is?
Cliff
I can only give a rough estimate for you - at least 3 metres tall (maybe a little more), and perhaps 10 metres long. It’s a big sculpture and very impressive in the flesh. Hope that helps.