Culture In The Country ..... — Steve Chivers Photography

Well August certainly started with a bang. A visit to Doncaster to see our daughter Anna meant that Mrs. C could tick-off one of her longstanding bucket list items, a visit to the wonderful Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP).

As usual Team Chivers came fully equipped for all eventualities as the weather had been somewhat inclement and the morning weather report predicted rain of biblical proportions. I ventured to suggest that we might put-off said visit for another time but “She Who must Be Obeyed” was unanimous, we were going and that was that!

Under advice (a.k.a. pain of death) and given that this was predicted to be the best day of the week, we decided to take our chances. So, we dialed YSP in to the sat-nav, fired up the Polo and headed up the M1.

Now regular readers will already be aware that Mrs. C plans these excursions with what can only be described as a military precision. As a result, I merely point the Polo in the correct direction, ensure I have various cards for payments and light refreshments and pack my camera bag.

Given that this was going to be an “artistic” excursion, I decided to give it the full treatment with the Leica SL2 and the manually adapted 50mm Noctilux F0.95 (my favourite lens).

As aways we arrived bang on opening time at the Weston Entrance, so as to start the day with our usual steaming coffee and a croissant. The immaculate coffee shop did not disappoint and whilst everyone else was enjoying breakfast and discussing what sculptures they wished to look at, I decided to work on creating some art of my own.

“Bokeh Daisy” - Steve Chivers - Giving it the full Noctilux treatment at F0.95

Entrance to the Park is £9 for adults and parking is free. So suitably refreshed and ticket in hand we set out in to the Park.

Now walking boots and / or stout walking shoes are highly recommended as is picking up the old analogue sat-nav (for anyone under the age of 30 that is a paper map which shows you the route!).

I will not pretend to know too much about either sculptures or the artists that created them. However, we had great light, dramatic clouds and a very interesting subject matter, all set out in the 500 Acre 18th century Bretton Hall Estate in West Yorkshire.

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words so let us move forward accordingly.

I have to say that after the first 15 ,minutes of walking I was so enjoying both the art itself as well as the beautiful scenery of the Bretton Hall Estate.

Now I do not wish to provoke a debate about the nature of the sculptures but it is fair to say that Damian Hirst may not be everyones cup of tea.

However, in the next sector of the Park we came across my particular favorites by the wonderful Henry Moore. If I could afford to buy one (which I can’t), and had a garden (which I don’t), I would put one in it.

“Reclining figure:Arch Leg” - Henry Moore

“Large Two Forms” featuring Anna Chivers - Henry Moore

I loved the juxtaposition of the art amongst the beautiful Yorkshire countryside

At this point I had fully embraced the artistic concept and was up to about 4000 steps on the iPhone. Culture whilst burning calories, an interesting concept! However, we appeared to be off the beaten track and so it was out with the analogue sat-nav.

Fortunately, being a country boy, I have a natural sense of direction and I soon had us on the right track.

We had now traversed the entire Park and had arrived at the main entrance and the YSP Centre. As we walked through the centre the lighting created more photo opportunities.

“The Corridor Of Uncertainty” - Steve Chivers

Then we emerged in to a sector of the park where the exhibits somewhat challenged my concept of art although they did make me smile. An exhibition by Erwin Wurm. However, that is the beauty of art, it is all in the eye of the beholder.

Well, after the last selection of exhibits by Erwin Wurm my mind was reeling. So we headed in to the woods in search of familiar territory; Barbara Hepworth.

“Relics in the Landscape” - Daniel Arsham

Walk of Patrons - Our dear friends Rachel & Jonathan Ward

Well there we have it. Arriving back at the Weston we had covered about 4kms in about 2.5 hours. Exhausted but jubilant. To cap it off we had an excellent lunch at the Weston of cold cuts, local cheeses & steaming hot new potatoes oozing with butter. Be sure to book in advance or you will not be able to get a table. As always, I ended our visit in my happy place :-)

As per tradition the last image has to be “The Bench of Contemplation”.

“The Bench Of Contemplation” - Steve Chivers

What a fabulous morning and we felt that we had barely scratched the surface. All the more reason for another visit; something I would recommend to everybody!

See you again soon and warmest regards from Plymouth.