MIDSUMMER MAGIC IN AN ENGLISH COUNTRY GARDEN

Midsummer in an magic ENGLISH COUNTRY GARDEN

Asthall Manor in Oxfordshire is famed for its former occupants, the infamous Mitford sisters; its beautiful garden, designed by Isabel and Julian Bannerman; and its spectacular biennial art exhibition, on form

words by gabrielle nathan

Once every two years, the spellbinding garden of Asthall Manor is elevated further by the addition of hundreds of sculptures in stone, each one carefully selected and positioned to showcase both the exceptional artwork and the serene beauty of the surrounding landscape. This magical transformation takes the small, dedicated team at On Form, and the sculptors themselves, many weeks to execute, but the result is nothing short of spectacular. For a month, the grounds of the Jacobean

Cotswold manor house, which lies just outside the picturesque town of Burford, become a living art gallery, with moving, growing and photosynthesising floors and walls. A space quite unlike any other, open to the elements and the whims of the weather, studded with pieces of contemporary art hewn from solid, unyielding rock.

This unique celebration of

English country garden and sculpture was conceived by Rosie Pearson, owner of

Asthall Manor and founder of

On Form, the only exhibition in the UK entirely dedicated to sculptors working in stone.

“The medium of stone lies at the heart of the exhibition and is supported by On

Form’s ‘please do touch’ policy; visitors are urged to engage with the stone, to feel the harmony between nature and stone and to revel in the surprise and delight of the works and the playfulness of the curation,” explains Rosie.

Since 2006, On Form has been curated by Anna Greenacre, who has gained a reputation for thoughtful placement that is sensitive to the relationship between sculpture and landscape. On the overall e ect of displaying works of some of the most accomplished sculptors working in

stone across the UK, Europe and North America within the magnificent gardens of Asthall Manor, Anna says, “A whole other sensory world appears here. Sculptures bring contours, texture, intrigue; provoking thought and conversation – and plants have a lovely way of softening them. Life hums around each piece.” “For On Form 22, a new selection of 37 sculptors has been made, eight of whom are new to On Form and nine “The medium of of whom will be bringing stone lies at the their work from mainland Europe, including a heart of the group from Studio exhibition, and is supported by on Pescarella in Pietrasanta, the traditional home of stone-carving in form’s ‘please do Tuscany,” Rosie reveals. touch’ policy; Alongside newcomers, highly acclaimed visitors are favourites, including urged to engage with the stone, Dominic Welch, Anthony Turner, co-founder of On Form, and Peter to feel the Randall-Page, will also harmony between be exhibiting. Between them, the 37 nature and stone artists will display over and to revel in 300 pieces of their work, the surprise and with prices ranging from £300 to £80,000. Each delight of the sculpture will be placed works and the playfulness of throughout the bold and luscious gardens, from the entrance way the curation” marked by gateposts

Rosie pearson topped with Anthony’s curvaceous finials, around the formal areas close to the house, out through the planters and yew hedges, past the natural swimming pool to the wildflower and water meadows, where the garden merges seamlessly with the Windrush Valley beyond. Clever curation makes the best use of space and vistas; a shady willow arbour is occupied by a carved elephant, the orchard is dotted with stone pieces, and the lawn steps to the natural pool bring you eye-level with more sculptures. On the bank of the hidden lake, another artwork is perfectly reflected in the still water.

BELOW: ROSIE PEARSON, OWNER OF ASTHALL MANOR, AND ANNA GREENACRE, CURATOR OF ON FORM

“It’s almost as if the garden has been designed to host this exhibition, with box hedging inserts perfect for plinths on which sculptures can be displayed”

owen vaughan, head gardener at asthall manor

STONE AND ROSES: SCULPTURE IN STONE ON DISPLAY IN THE GARDEN

“It’s almost as if the garden has been designed to host this exhibition, with box hedging inserts perfect for plinths on which sculptures can be displayed,” confides Owen Vaughan, head gardener at Asthall Manor and charged with making the 10-acre garden look its absolute best, ready to welcome thousands of visitors to On Form. In fact, the garden was designed in 1998 by Isabel and Julian Bannerman, two of the most renowned and respected garden designers in the business. Variously described as ‘the Bonnie and Clyde of garden design’ and ‘mavericks in the grand manner, touched by genius,’ the Bannermans have made gardens for the Prince of Wales at Highgrove, John Paul Getty II at Wormsley in Buckinghamshire, and Lord Rothschild at Waddesdon Manor. At Asthall Manor, Rosie commissioned the pair to allow the garden to flow into the Windrush Valley landscape beyond it. “At first, I wanted everything to be completely wild. But Julian and Isabel were brilliant at explaining to me that formality was needed to frame and contrast with the wildness,” says Rosie. The resulting garden successfully blends form and freedom, open views and secret spaces that provide the perfect backdrop to On Form. Indeed, Isabel Bannerman has described the biennial exhibition of contemporary sculpture as “the whole raison d’être of the garden.”

Not every artwork will be displayed outdoors; some will be placed within the interior spaces of Asthall Manor, including the Ballroom, converted from a barn by ‘Farve’ Mitford Lord Redesdale in 1919, and in St Nicholas Church, which is just next door. “The diversity of these locations suggests to visitors possibilities for displaying sculpture in their own home and garden,” explains Rosie.

To complement the exhibition, a series of special ticketed events – including painting workshops and guided birdsong walks – designed to enhance the On Form experience and help deepen understanding of the art form, will run throughout the four weeks. For the first time, Anna has created a sculptor’s studio in the Ballroom, allowing visitors an immersive experience of the process and craft of sculpting stone.

Rosie, an active member of the West Oxfordshire Green Party, is determined that as well as paying homage to the intense and dusty life of the stone-carvers and their dedication to their materials, this year’s exhibition will open deeper conversation around concerns for the environment. “The fragility of the natural world, which has always been an implicit theme of the exhibition, will be more transparently pursued. The four local charities benefitting from on form this year have been chosen to chime with these concerns. The Wychwood Forest Trust, Bridewell Organic Gardens and Wild Oxfordshire are all concerned with regenerating soils, ecosystems and our human relationship with the natural world, while Refugee Resource speaks to themes of welcome, inclusivity and adaptability.” Meanwhile, visitors who attend On Form without a car will be rewarded with reduced-price entry, a special drink at the Potting Shed café and even a sculpture discount. “It should not be so di cult for visitors from Burford,” assures Rosie. “It’s a lovely bike ride along the valley road, the 233 bus comes to Asthall Turn several times a day or, if you’re feeling adventurous, you could canoe along the Windrush!”

ON FORM 22 RUNS FROM 12 JUNE TO 10 JULY AT ASTHALL MANOR, ASTHALL BURFORD OX18 4HW.

OPEN 11AM TO 6PM WEDNESDAY TO SUNDAY.

How tomake yourgarden sculpture-worthy

BY ASTHALL MANOR HEAD GARDENER OWEN VAUGHAN

1Sculptures don’t have to be on plinths; some large pieces are placed directly onto the ground. On lawns, we try to ‘bury’ them into the grass to look seamless, like they are growing out of the ground organically.

2Works of art can be created from unlikely materials. Rosie formed curved earth mounds from earth dug up for the natural swimming pool. Seeded with grass, they undulate like a permanent green sculpture. 3Build sculpture and artistry into your plants, even when they’re not in bloom. The previous head gardener at Asthall devised a unique way of pruning roses that we continue to use. The method involves tying-in 90% of the roses (rambling are best), bending and twisting the stems as much as possible then tying them with string, which slows the flow of sap, forcing the buds to create flowers rather than more stems or leaves, as a response to the lack of nutrients. This gives you 10 times more roses than traditional pruning does and creates something free-flowing and sculptural through the winter. Your imagination is your limitation.

4Seize the opportunity to change. We had to remove the box-bordered parterres this year as we had box blight. Mindful of the future environment, we are replanting the area with drought-tolerant plants, including lavender and sea hollies, to reduce water consumption.

andrew kay sculpture.co.uk

Free UK Delivery