Sculpture in the garden

George Bernard Shaw once said, ‘Without art, the crudeness of reality would make life unbearable’. You may or may not agree, and in the context of the garden it might be going a little far, however it is certainly true that art, in the form of sculpture, can give a garden a lift. It’s impact has been recognised throughout history and across different cultures, from Roman statuary, to Moorish fountains, to Japanese stone lanterns.

In the garden, as elsewhere, our eye naturally seeks out a resting place, something that draws and holds its attention. Sculptures are perfect at providing that focal point, and with it a sense of order. They can also give the garden both personality and meaning. The main difficulties are firstly deciding what sculpture to choose and secondly deciding where to put it.

The choice is a difficult one, as sculpture comes in so many materials and styles, and it is ultimately a personal one.  Essentially anything can take on the mantle of garden sculpture but most are, at the least, aesthetically pleasing objects, which is in itself a matter of taste. You may be drawn to a bespoke piece costing hundreds of pounds or something ‘off-the-shelf’, or simply found objects from your travels.  Like the rest of the garden though, they will be a reflection of your personality, and help create the atmosphere that you want.

A sculpture needs to have a commanding presence so when choosing one it is worth being bold. The size of a piece must to some extent be influenced by where it will be placed in the garden, but large pieces can work well even in small spaces.  One of the reasons why your choice of sculpture is so important, and may take time, is that to have too many can be a distraction and therefore just having one or two will have the greatest impact.

The placing of a sculpture is as important as the sculpture itself.  Is it to be an added attraction or the main event? Strongly geometric gardens lend themselves to an eye-catching centre piece, while focal points in contemporary gardens, with their often asymmetrical layouts, can help draw you around the garden and create a sense of movement. Whatever the style of garden, sculptures should act as punctuation marks that catch the eye, bring you to a point of rest, and be balanced with the surrounding layout and planting.

If you are already on the hunt for a special feature for your garden, or fancy getting an idea of the sort of things that are available, then a visit to the sculpture exhibition at Doddington Hall, near Lincoln, will be well worth it. The exhibition runs until 2nd September and shows off over 300 pieces in the lovely and extensive grounds.