Biennial to challenge visitors' 'fantasy' of Tatton
07th May 2010
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A giant rocking horse. An Arctic iceberg. A collapsing tree house. And an armada of floating lily pads.
Just some of the intriguing exhibits dotted throughout Tatton Park this summer for the Tatton Park Biennial 2010 contemporary art show.
Like all modern art, it can confound and inspire in equal measures. But what's the purpose of displaying art in the grounds of a stately home instead of a gallery?
According to the Biennial's organisers, the aim is to challenge the park's genteel 'Cranford' image enjoyed by its traditional National Trust visitors.
"Tatton is a site for fantasy," said co-curator Jordan Kaplan.
"Most people come here with a shopping list of experiences and desires that they expect to be met.
"They look round the house and imagine themselves sitting at a window enjoying a particular view, then go to the gift shop or have a cup of tea.
"Part of the Biennial's charm is the ability to challenge that experience and present another version of history. "
Horse
Take Marcia Farquhar's giant wooden rocking horse.
Standing almost 4m (12ft) tall, 'Big Bertie' is the largest hand-carved rocking horse in the world.
Alone, it looks simply like a large version of a traditional child's toy taken from the Hall's nursery.
But during special events throughout the Biennial, the artist will 'ride' the horse to present this piece of Victoriana in a more thought-provoking way.
"It's that 'I want a pony' thing, said Jordan. "I mean why do little girls want a pony? It's all very Freudian. "
"The artist is asking questions about the English psyche and the historical fascination of young girls with horses. "
The sculpture - 'The Horse is a Noble Animal' - will be displayed at different locations throughout the grounds, from the stables to the rose garden.
Although less controversial, the installation that has generated most interest in the run-up to the Biennial is Neville Gabie's 10,000 year old iceberg.
The two-tonne lump of ice - fished out of a fjord in Greenland - is being housed in a specially-built glass case and kept frozen using solar power and pond water.
"It uses the sun to keep the ice cold but it also raises questions about the ethics of moving things around the world," said South African-born Gabie.
Lily pads
Also catching the eye - certainly from above - is Steve Messam's installation 'Lily', one of the largest art works in the UK.
Fifty giant floating lily pads, up to 5m in diameter, will weave the length of Tatton Mere, creating a streak of colour over 1. 5 kilometres of water, and will be large enough to be seen from passengers flying in and out of Manchester Airport.
Messam, whose background is as a photographer, said: "I hope people will spend time with the piece - looking at it from vantage points all round the lake. I'm sure more people will want to explore it from the water on boats too. "
One particular challenge was to make the lily pads 'geese-proof' and robust enough to withstand floating on open water for five months in all weathers.
Other exhibits include: Ghost, a 1994 Nissan Sunny which smells like a Rolls Royce by Clara Usitti; Annika Eriksson's Smallest Cinema in the World which seats six people; a collapsing tree house by Manchester artist Fiona Curran; and Evacuate, a sculpture of game bird feathers spilling from an oven in Tatton's kitchen by artist Kate MccGwire.
"It's all about putting high quality contemporary art productions in places where people might not be expecting to encounter them," said Jordan.
"Many people who turn up won't like it. Some will feel it's an intrusion and detracts from their experience.
But that's the fantasy of Tatton, isn't it?"
Tatton Park Biennial 2010: Framing Identity is at Tatton Park, 8 May to 26 September 2010.
Source: BBC News - Manchester
