A Sense of Place - Art in the Landscape

Some of the oldest art we have survives as part of the landscape. I always have a sense of shock and pleasure to see the Uffington White Horse carved into its hillside. The horse is made from the landscape itself, and it feels like it’s telling us something I’m sure - but what is it?

Beside the A1 as it approaches Gateshead, Anthony Gormley’s Angel of the North is a much-loved modern equivalent. Under its feet are the crushed remains of the buildings of a coal mine. It is literally rooted in the past while the rebirth of the industrial North evolves in the shadow of its wings.  Centuries apart there’s a sense of place in both of them. And what will the Angel say to people in 500 years?

There is a place near Wakefield which is home to hundreds of pieces of art in the landscape: The Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Sheep graze around enormous bronzes by Henry Moore. An old deer shelter, half sunk in the ground, has become a place to watch the clouds go by. By the espaliered apple trees in the walled garden contemporary artists pose questions in their work.

Walking through the park is a constant series of surprises. Artists choose where the pieces are set, often making them for their settings. They merge into the landscape or shine out in deliberate contrast. They make me think about the place, about the artist’s thoughts, about the nourishment art brings.

You can find details of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park HERE

If you’d like to create some art in the landscape Ian Scott Massie leads experiences from the Happy House in Masham. Details HERE