David Nash

Description

Native Sussex woods, oak and chestnut, were chosen by Nash from the Goodwood Estate woodyard, and further pieces, in particular the tree that forms Large Oak Throne, were purchased from the local English Woodland yard at Cocking to make these sculptures.

The clearing at the south-east corner of Sculpture at Goodwood was chosen by Nash for these works, selected because it is partly enclosed but with a long view over the cornfields to the distant coastline, affording dramatic changes of light and mood according to the time of day, the season and the weather. The installation is of three individual sculptures, all typical of Nash's oeuvre. Large Oak Throne, the largest throne form that David Nash has made in English oak, is carved from a single, massive tree, the breadth of the wood allowing the forms to take a generous sweep where gesture was given free rein. Against the open field and the sky Sphere, Cube and Pyramid stand in dramatic silhouette. Their intense blackness disguises the three-dimensional quality of the sculpture in some lights and from certain angles. These are the geometric forms used in the landscape paintings of Cezanne.

On entering or leaving the clearing one passes through two sentinel Vessels, both carved from single trunks of chestnut. Viewed against the trees, the works are returned to the place where they may well have grown. All of these sculptures were burned where they now stand, the process at once dramatic and controlled. When charred, the woods become anonymous.