Expo at Exbury

From the Echo, first published Thursday 16th Oct 2003.

PLANTS, animals and the natural world are the inspiration for an unusual outdoor sculpture exhibition at Exbury Gardens, in the New Forest.

The magnificent trees and herbaceous borders at Exbury provide an appropriate backdrop for this exhibition, entitled Drawn From Nature.

Around 100 pieces of original work have been arranged in the gardens, in collaboration with the Beatrice Royal Contemporary Art and Craft Gallery in Eastleigh.

"We are delighted to have such a range of beautiful, innovative and exciting work to show our visitors," said Nicholas de Rothschild, of Exbury.

"An exhibition like this fits organically with our garden, giving visitors the chance to enjoy not only the beautiful trees, plants and woodland walks but also to understand the power of nature in another way."

The exhibition features the work of more than 40 artists, ranging from comical Dancing Chickens by Caroline de Rothschild, to the huge wooden benches of Nigel Ross, who uses whole tree trunks to make each piece.

Great expertise has gone into the placing of these works of art, to make sure they are displayed to the best advantage.

Some of the larger sculptures, such as the gleaming metal Bluebell by Antony Sturgis and the driftwood designs by Calmore sculptor Martin Scorey, demand a dramatic setting, and look perfect out of doors in this vast, 200-acre garden.

Other sculptures are more delicate. Lymington artist Michael Turner makes glittering dragonflies and mayflies, which look quite surreal fluttering over the flower beds. And look out for an amazing, giant metal spider!

Diane Ross has created Groundpieces, a collection of giant metal seed pods, which are perfectly placed, scattered on the ground beneath a giant copper beech tree. Also in metal are Natasha Carsberg's Shell Fragments. She cuts and forges thick steel plate to make these weird crustaceans, which are then painted in brilliant colours.

Ian Joseph's Dihaxin is a two-piece wooden carving, which looks strangely organic in this luxuriant garden setting.

It's always a treat to stroll through the glades and across the lawns at Exbury, especially if there's a chance of finding a beautiful sculpture in some shady corner.

Most of the work is for sale and many of the artists will take commissions - although you may need your credit cards, since many of the more ambitious sculptures are priced between £1,000 and £5,000.

Exbury Gardens are probably best known for their dazzling, early summer display of azaleas and rhododendrons.

At this time of year, visitors are more likely to notice the vast collections of mature trees, which provide such a wonderful backdrop for this sculpture collection.

The display will remain in the gardens until next June and there will be no extra charge for visitors to Exbury.

Some children are bored by gardens, although some will enjoy seeing these fascinating sculptures - and most look forward to visiting Exbury because of the excitement of riding on the popular steam railway. It's an effortless way to explore a little-known part of these huge gardens.

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