The Cascade bridge (header) divides the lake into two – Upper Lake which leads to a Greek Temple and Shell Grotto and Lower Lake which is larger and has walking tracks through the woods or on the north side a pathway suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. I stayed on the pathway because now the sun had come out and it was becoming quite hot and I was already too tired to take the longer route to the south of the lake.
Most of the sculptures are located near the YSP centre and around the actual hall, but it is a rather pleasant stroll alongside the lakeside with both natural landscapes and man-made views. A wild flower meadow attracts bees and butterflies and ducks lazily swim by.
Diario by Mikayel Ohanjanyan is a reflection on the unique value of every single person, of each human being that we meet along the road, from our birth to the end of our life. Lying on a table in the middle of YSP are blocks of marble bound by steel cables; cracked as though trying to escape. Inside each block, on either side of each fissure, half-visible inscriptions list the names of all the people the artist has ever met.
Please scroll through the galleries in this post to find out more about each individual sculpture. You may need to click on comment in order to read the description, but you do not have to leave a comment. All information comes from the YSP booklet/plaques and website.
Within the lower park and around the Camellia House are several large works. Black and Blue: The Invisible Man and the Mask of Darkness by Zak Ové is particularly striking. The group faces forward to confront the viewer en masse.
Beyond is the odd looking Trees: From Alternative Landscape Components by Dennis Oppenheim.
Trees: From Alternative Landscape Components act as a dialogue, this time between the natural and artificial landscape and as a comment on the act of creating environments.
Close to the Camellia House is a very large wire Hare. Sitting by Sophie Ryder attracts many a puzzled viewer.
Anthropomorphic characters are used both to explore the human condition and as a metaphor for Ryder’s own feelings. Over several years she has evolved an ongoing narrative around the female/mother figure of the Lady-Hare; a hybrid with the head of a hare, and its body modelled on Ryder’s own.
Occasionally my attention was drawn to something else near a sculpture, like this (cloud-like) smoke bush above which was near to the Shapes in the Clouds III sculpture. Likewise the door and espaliered fruit trees in the Bothy Garden alongside the bronze apples in the tree. The lady, sitting deep in contemplation with knee bent – was that composition triggered by my having seen the Lady Hare? And the family picnic alongside Barbara Hepworths ‘Family’ on my previous post. Did the sculptures influence my observations or did my observations make me more aware of the sculptures?
I’ll leave you with my last shot: a sheep under Tony Cragg’s five metre high Caldera which seems most fitting since Cragg is especially interested in the relationship between man-made and the natural. Of course I didn’t know that until after I’d taken the shot which is when I read the information plaque.
Whether or not you are interested in sculptures this is a delightful park to visit if you are in the area and you may be surprised by how much you learn simply by walking around. New works and exhibitions are being introduced all the time and many other events take place at the Centre. To find out more visit the YSP website. Parking is easy, can be done any time during your visit or up to seven days after and costs £10 for the day. There is no entrance fee.
IF YOU ENJOY A WALK, LONG OR SHORT, THEN HAVE A LOOK AT JO’S SITE WHERE YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN IN WITH HER MONDAY WALKS.
TRAVEL WORDS 
Wasn’t as sunny as this when we went thank goodness! We wanted one of the faces in Black & Blue to look different or move!!
Yes. A bright blue one would have added interest.
Maybe we will have to sneak in with a paint pot!
Love that hare! And another great sheep shot to add to your collage 🙂
I was quite taken with those Black and Blue sculptures and clicked on the link… I can imagine what an impression seeing it in situ.
And what a gorgeous park – makes me wish I lived in the neighbourhood, one could go there every day and see something different with each visit.
It is an interesting place and they do seem to change exhibits fairly regularly.