Curve

/ Su Leslie
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A sharp angular plinth only accentuates the continuous curve of Arissara Reed & Davin Nurimba’s ‘Acoustic Chamber‘, 2015. Seen at Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2015. Image: Su Leslie, 2015

For anyone who knows me, it will be no surprise that I’ve chosen images of sculptures for this week’s Daily Post Photo Challenge on the theme of curve. If there is anything unexpected here, it’s that I’ve been so restrained in the number of images chosen.

Bernar Venet, '88.5° ARC x 8'. Seen at Gibbs Farm Sculpture Park, Kaipara, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2015

Curved corten steel ribs form Bernar Venet, 88.5° ARC x 8. Seen at Gibbs Farm Sculpture Park, Kaipara, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2015

It’s difficult to convey the scale of Anish Kapoor’s ‘Dismemberment, Site 1. The work is 85 metres long (278 feet); a steel and fabric tube whose ends are 25 metres x 8 metres (82 feet x 26 feet). It literally sits between two hills on a vast rural estate facing the Kaipara Harbour.

Anish Kapoor, 'Dismemberment Site 1'. Seen at Gibbs Farm Sculpure Park, Kairpara, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2015.

Anish Kapoor, Dismemberment, Site 1. Seen at Gibbs Farm Sculpure Park, Kaipara, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2015.

Anish Kapoor, 'Dismemberment Site 1'. Seen at Gibbs Farm Sculpure Park, Kairpara, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2015.

Anish Kapoor, Dismemberment, Site 1. Seen at Gibbs Farm Sculpture Park, Kaipara, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2015.

Anish Kapoor, Dismemberment, Site 1. Gibbs Farm Sculpture Park, Kaipara Harbour, NZ. Photo: Su Leslie, 2015

Anish Kapoor, Dismemberment, Site 1. Gibbs Farm Sculpture Park, Kaipara Harbour, NZ. Photo: Su Leslie, 2015

Of course size isn’t everything. Potter Rod Davies creates domestic-scale ceramic works; many of which are based on curving forms. ‘Ocean Swell’ is one of my favourites.

Rod Davies, 'Ocean Swell.' Seen at Kaipara Coast Sculpture Gardens. Photo: Su Leslie 2013

Rod Davies, ‘Ocean Swell.’ Seen at Kaipara Coast Sculpture Gardens. Photo: Su Leslie 2013

 

125 thoughts on “Curve”

  13. These are all excellent choices for *curve*. One question I don’t think I’ve ever asked you is – are these sculptures permanent installations or were they just temporarily placed there for an art show?

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    • I should read comments in order! The really big works at Gibbs Farm are permanent, but the works at Bondi and Kaipara were in specific exhibitions. I love that there has been an explosion of outdoor sculpture exhibitions in recent years. Auckland alone has four quite significant exhibitions either annual or biennial, and Sculpture by the Sea in Sydney has become a real institution and major tourist attraction. Gibbs Farm is really interesting because it is the private collection of one (very rich) man. He opens the park to the public several times a year. Tickets are free, but issued by ballot. I’ve got some for later this year so I can finally take the boy-child with me. I’m looking forward to his photos of the place!

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  15. These are incredible! I also wonder about whether these are permanent installations. I can’t believe the size of these sculptures. Great shots, Su. You really capture the beauty of these curves.

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    • Thank you so much Amy. The shots are a mix of works that are permanently located, and from specific exhibitions. Sculpture by the Sea is an annual Australian exhibition in Sydney and also Perth. The Kaipara Coast sculpture park has changing exhibitions too, but Gibbs’ Farm is privately owned, and the work is permanently sited (not surprising given its size, cost and the engineering needed just to stop the work falling over in high winds). It’s considered one of the best collections of modern abstract sculpture in the world — and yet it is located on a slightly out of the way rural property, and even many Aucklanders don’t know about it.

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    • 😀 It’s so big that there isn’t really an acoustic effect. The red fabric is kind of rubbery, and the first time I saw it my friend and I looked at each other and both though how cool it wold be to slide through it — preferably if it was wet and covered in detergent. Forgetting of course that the drop at the other end is about 5 metres!

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  27. they are all good, almost looking like they “step out of ordinary dimension” however, my favorite is the last one with the trees in in the background.

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    • Actually, the majority are. Gibbs Farm Sculpture Park and the Kaipara Coast Sculpture Park are only a few miles apart. The first shot was taken at Sculpture by the Sea in Sydney, so yeah, a bit of travel involved in that one. 🙂

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