It's been grey and gloomy for what seems like months on end but halfway through half term, the skies brightened. So, as is customary in the school holidays when the holidays are spent at home, we went for a walk through the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, a mere 30 minute drive away.
Well, I say walk, the ground was still wallowy underfoot so there was quite a lot of slipping, sliding, slurping and glooping too.
We went to see the monumental KAWS sculptures that have recently been erected in the park as part of the New York artist's first major UK exhibition which runs at the YSP until June 12.
KAWS (aka Brian Donnelly) is considered to be one of the most relevant contemporary artists working today. His work combines pop art traditions with popular culture to produce a prolific body of work including sculpture, painting, prints, graphic design and toys.
The enormous cartoonish character sculptures towering in the open air of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park have the trademark crossed eyes and skull and crossbone heads that have become his signature. Monumentally impressive, clownishly sad, they are both breath-taking and thought-provoking."As if Mickey Mouse had grown up to be a goth or a bit emo," said The Teen and she's not wrong.
The KAWS exhibition continues in the YSP's Longside Gallery featuring more of his sculptures and brightly colourful, acrylic paintings.
Unfortunately we didn't get as far as exploring the Longside Gallery this time, The Teen and The Boy being more determined to embrace the park's natural wonders rather than its cultural ones after weeks of wind and rain..
But at least that gives us an excuse to visit the exhibition again. Hurrah.
What a great place to be able to explore, it's great that they have different exhibitions at the park so it's different each time you visit. Those sculptures really are a little like Mickey Mouse, they didn't look as big until I saw the people next to them. It's great that they wanted to explore outside and what better reason to go back again. Thanks foe linking up with me on #CountryKids.
ReplyDeleteFantastic photos - I love the sculptures against the blue sky. The scale is incredible too. #yorkshirefamily
ReplyDeleteGreat photos! Looks like you visited on a sunnier day than we did. We also didn't make it to the gallery but I really want to go back as well. I love teens comment - whatever Micky is going through he definitely needs a hug! Thanks for linking up with #YorkshireFamily
ReplyDeleteThis looks like such a brilliant exhibition! We will definitely be making a little trip there xx
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