Marijke de Goey, “The Mermaid” (1999). Sculpture located at Gibbs Farm Sculpture Park, Kaipara, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2015
…. when it’s a sculpture.
“My jewellery is sculpture for the body,
my sculptures are jewellery for the landscape.” — Marijke de Goey.
For me, art can bridge the gap between the mundane and the profound; the taken-for-granted “real” world and the dreams and imaginings of our souls.
Zimmerbitch 
Now THAT is strange. I am not sure how to respond to it. It’s not beautiful, but it is eye-catching.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s in a sculpture park which has a collection of very large abstract pieces set in the otherwise totally rural landscape. This is one of the smaller pieces! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting—at first I thought it was intended primarily to be a bridge, not art, but then I read more carefully. Still think it’s odd!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t make the connection between the title “the mermaid” and the actual work
LikeLike
It undulates like a mermaid. ??
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your guess is as good as mine 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an unexpected sight in an otherwise pastoral setting. Fascinating.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s in the Gibbs Farm Sculpture Park — something of a feast of the unexpected! http://www.gibbsfarm.org.nz/
LikeLiked by 1 person
It looks like there’s a narrow walkway in the centre of it. – neat!-
Leslie
LikeLiked by 1 person
I noticed that at the time, but didn’t think it looked very robust. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not sure I’d want to walk on it. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me either.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting, but not really my cup of tea. I don’t really get the mermaid connection, either. 🙂
janet
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it’s the name that I have the most trouble with. I feel dumb for not seeing the connection.
LikeLike
I don’t. Heck, I don’t get a lot of modern art or “art.” 🙂 Can’t worry about it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Intriguing. I can imagine kids having fun on it, jungle gym style!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 … and a bunch of parents grumbling about wet children and clothes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting take on the challenge.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I actually do like this – a lot! It would be even better if it was in fact functional and could be climbed! I love her quote -sculptures as jewellry for the landscape.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the idea of a climbing frame over water, though I’m guessing a lot of parents of smallish kids wouldn’t. And I love her quote too; I’ve been thinking about it a lot in terms of my jewellery and wondering if I need to revisit what I own/wear with a different mindset.
LikeLike
{gasp} A reason to go jewelry shopping!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was thinking of what I could make out of the pieces I have. I’m a costume jewellery sort of person, so I don’t feel bad about pulling things apart and re-purposing them. I hardly buy jewellery these days because I never see anything I really like (perhaps I shop in all the wrong places).
LikeLike
I’ve seen some beautiful pieces made from repurposed costume jewelry. I wish I was even remotely crafty.
My favourites were bracelets made from all different vintage clip-on earrings – either all ‘pearls’ or coloured rhinestones.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the idea of the bracelets! My jewelry “thing” is earrings. And of course, I tend to lose one of a pair, so I should probably do something with all the left-overs. Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
LikeLike
I love to see what creation you come up with 🙂
LikeLike
Fantastical!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Art can indeed bridge the gap between the mundane and the profound, Su….but I’m not sure about this example!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 I love how the work is being responded to in the comments here. It’s an interesting piece in the landscape, but I don’t quite “get it” either. It’s in a park with some truly amazing work and (for me anyway) suffers a bit in comparison. But that’s obviously not the issue here. Here’s a link to the park so you can see what I mean http://www.gibbsfarm.org.nz/artworks.php
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, thanks Su, I will take a look
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Bridge View | What's (in) the picture?
I have to chime in with the “I don´t get it” group 😉 And I have to admit at first glance I thought the sculpture belongs to a playground! I just suck at modern art 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
No way!!! I don’t think we should EVER believe that we are in any deficient because work doesn’t seem comprehensible to us. When I saw the sculpture I remember thinking it had a fun, child-like feel — as if it should be in a playground. I didn’t think too much about it, and I wonder now, if I hadn’t included the name in my photo caption, whether anyone would have thought twice about it as art.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I´m glad then that your thoughts about that sculpture ran about the same lines as mine 🙂
That´s the wonderful thing about modern art: even if one doesn’t like it there´s so much to talk about and food for thought to be gained of it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree. I love going to galleries with different people and hearing their views about the work we see. It’s sad that so many people feel intimidated by modern work that they don’t believe they are allowed to express their views.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly my thoughts! 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great minds think alike 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
They do, don´t they 😉 xxx
LikeLike
I totally get “The Mermaid” title but I can’t say it’s my favourite piece at the park that’s for sure. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 is it the shape?
LikeLiked by 1 person
The boxyness seems to jar with the landscape to me. That’s why it’s not one of my favourite pieces in the park. But the way it curves certainly says mermaid. Just my take for what it’s worth. lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
I get what you’re saying. I saw another photo of the work yesterday, and I definitely could see the curve-mermaid connection a bit more than in my photo, but still …
Hope you have a great week Amanda 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow that’s very cool. Love the colour too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Can’t help thinking you’d enjoy the whole sculpture park 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes I think so!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s open once a month, free entry by ballot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The structure looked like capturing the motion of a dice being thrown.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re right! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting sculpture.
LikeLiked by 1 person