Moore's giants find new life among kew's ancient trees
Henry Moore’s monumental bronze sculptures are taking root – quite literally – at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in an unprecedented outdoor exhibition that promises to reshape our perception of both art and nature.
A dialogue between stone and green
The show, ‘Henry Moore: Monumental Nature,’ which opens May 9th, stretches across 320 acres, including the vast Wakehurst site in West Sussex, offering a scale rarely seen for the artist’s work. It’s a homecoming of sorts; a smaller collection previously appeared in 2007, but this iteration represents a significant expansion, designed to emphasize the vital importance of biodiversity.
Kew’s Creative Programme Manager, Gemma Holsgrove, explains, ‘Art can do things that other disciplines simply can’t. It offers a fresh perspective, a chance to engage with our surroundings on a deeper level.’ The gardens, already renowned for their immense scale – including the world’s largest surviving Victorian glasshouse, the Temperate House – provide the ideal backdrop for Moore’s imposing forms, which, according to the sculptor himself, ‘reintroduce you to form and shadow.’
Beyond the gallery walls
The exhibition isn't just about displaying sculptures; it’s about fostering a connection. Alongside Moore's bronzes – including the iconic ‘Mother and Child’ – new commissions and previously unseen works by contemporary artists like Rana Begum, Rafael Perez Evans, and Paloma Varga Weisz will engage with themes of stewardship and ecological responsibility. Godfrey Worsdale, Director of the Henry Moore Foundation, notes Moore’s ‘very philosophical and psychological’ relationship with nature, highlighting his belief that the natural world nurtures creativity.
Visitors will have the opportunity to trace Moore’s creative process through maquettes and sketches in Kew’s Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art, a parallel display offering a fascinating glimpse into the origins of these celebrated works. Outside, the sculptures’ abstract qualities – their weight, balance, and play of light and shadow – invite a more attentive gaze. The sheer scale of the installation – encompassing 320 acres – is a testament to Moore’s ambition and Kew’s commitment to providing an expansive environment
‘We’ve worked closely with the team to introduce three truly exceptional contemporary artists,’ Holsgrove adds, ‘artists who we’ve had relationships with through the Henry Moore Foundation for many years.’ This curated dialogue, she believes, will resonate powerfully in the current climate, where concerns about biodiversity are more urgent than ever. The show ultimately aims to train the eye, deepening our connection with the natural world Kew so diligently protects.
The juxtaposition of Moore’s forms against the gardens’ lush landscapes creates a compelling reciprocity, sharpening our perception of these extraordinary spaces.
The exhibition runs from May 9th, 2023, until January 31st, 2027, at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Wakehurst, West Sussex.