Cultural pursuits

When we came to Springfield 10 years ago, Doc and I were keen to introduce statuary to create interest, colour and a focal point in the general landscape of the garden.  So far we have acquired a small, mass-produced ceramic rabbit and a slightly creepy looking ‘rock drummer’ gnome. The former is tucked between the trellis and a clump of chives in Mr Macgregor’s garden and the latter (which, weirdly, was one of Doc’s 50th birthday presents) is behind a water butt. If a small child visits us, we usually give ‘Rocker’ a holiday and play 'Hunt the Gnome'.  He usually finishes up in a tree or under a bush.

Nowadays I sit down more than I stand up in the garden, so some visual interest whilst I am perched on a bench would enhance the view.  I also have time to surf the internet for ideas of what we could buy and as I do so, I realise why we have not invested in serious garden ornamentation before.  Choosing pots to group here and there is one thing, but choosing art is something completely different.

Talking to friends, I am not the only one who is lacking in confidence when it comes to choosing ornamentation for the garden.  One friend goes further and says that now we now have a granddaughter, we need ‘fairy doors’, additional cute animals to keep our rabbit company, and some butterflies on wires rather than anything Henry Moore might approve of.

I am sure Little E would love fairy doors but I find them a little twee for us and Doc does not want anything that is made of plastic.  We need some quality pieces which look elegant.  We would like to make a statement but remain understated, if that is possible.

Last summer, a good friend of ours celebrated a notable birthday by having lunch at Raymond Blanc’s restaurant, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, in Oxfordshire.  It was lovely to share such a special day with J and strolling around garden on a spring day was sublime.  (The food was brilliant too!).  There were plants and flowers, a lake and an abundant kitchen garden but the stand-out memory for all of us was the stunning sculpture.  Not only does it ooze quality but it sits in the landscape like it belongs there. Each piece is exactly positioned and in perfect harmony to its surroundings. There is something around every corner, but there is nothing which is over-done or crowded and everything is in proportion to the size and perspective of the garden.  

I doubt we have a big enough wallet for any of the sculpture we saw at Le Manoir but even if we did, I am struggling to find pieces which define our own personal style.  We do know we would like strong, unfussy forms and pieces which suit the natural, ‘countryside’ feel of the garden and neither of us are drawn to anthing contemporary.  But translating that into a specific purchase is proving to be a challenge.

I would quite like some life-size cast iron pigs in the orchard because I like that kind of whimsical humour.  However, the ones I have seen are too expensive.  Number One Daughter is artistic and creative and she could undoubtedly make something magnificent from a pile of junk from a skip but I am not sure Doc and I are open-minded enough to up-cycle old metal pipes and tin cans. 

Still, we have made a start and actually we are fond of our little rabbit.  As for the gnome, he is growing on us.  We have decided that he is ‘Kitsch’ and for the uninitiated ‘Kitsch’ means ‘art, or an object considered to be in poor taste because of excessive garishness or sentimentality, but sometimes appreciated in an ironic or knowing way.’  We are convinced his chipped hat and leery grin makes all the difference.