Light into Life: Marc Quinn at Kew

The weather forecast promised rain at 11am on Bank Holiday Monday and then for the rest of the day. So, I thought, if I get to Kew as the gates open at 10am, not only will I miss the rain but the bank holiday crowds. Great theory – and I did miss the crowds, but not the rain which arrived an hour early, as the gates opened. But warm and armed with a brolly, it was fine. In fact Marc Quinn’s massive shining polished stainless steel creations looked rather wonderful in the rain. This is Light into Life – Photosynthetic Form and greets you as you enter the gardens.

The thirteen shiny steel sculptures are all based on plants: orchids (this is an orchid), plants that have inspired medicine and palm trees. To quote from the Kew site:
‘Marc Quinn has long been interested in the links between nature and humanity, and this exhibition brings that complex relationship to life. The mirrored effect of many of the stainless-steel sculptures blurs the boundaries between the viewer, the sculpture and the landscape, giving every visitor a unique experience of the artworks. Their reflection encourages viewers to see themselves as a part of the artwork and a part of the landscape.’ And that about says it.

This is one of the palm trees, sited dramatically in front of the palm house – Event Horizon based on the Sabal palm found in the house.

And this is Light into Life – the Evolution of Forms, another orchid although it is situated in the rose garden behind the palm house.

Smaller stainless steel ‘herbs’ surround the Temperate House and are to be found hiding amongst the lush foliage inside the house. While in the two Octagons stand massive bronze Bonsai Trees set free from their bonsai bonds and allowed to reach their full, natural and rather spooky, height.

Far beyond the Temperate House by the Japanese Gateway is the only orchid to have escaped the stainless steel – Burning Desire – bronze painted with scarlet car paint.

If you get as far as Burning Desire, do come back  via the Shirley Sherwood Gallery where you will find more Marc Quinn: sculptures made from frozen blood (a trademark technique), large flower pictures made by applying broken car windscreen glass onto photographed images, freezer cabinets filled with vases of ‘frozen’ flowers and these extraordinary acrylic flower canvases.

Then, if after all that reflected nature you feel like a little real nature – and if you go fairly soon before they are all over – do visit the lovely tulip meadow…..

…notice the little handerchief tree – nowhere near as grand as ours in the Hill Garden or in Kenwood but trying hard…

…and say hello to the very cheerful dogs (or are they griffins) guarding the Palm House.
And if you do go fairly soon, you might even be in time to catch the geese families before they grow too much bigger….