Double Oval has enormous impact, viewed both at close quarters and from a distance. Looking at it we sense that the visible form is the tip of the iceberg. The two pieces have a steel frame below ground, supporting the mass of bronze. There is a specific footprint for positioning this work, and when moved it has to be carefully dug out of the ground and lifted with a heavy-duty crane. Each new site must be prepared carefully, and footings are made to ensure that the work sits on a solid foundation.
Double Oval demonstrates one of the central themes of Moore's work: the simplicity of organic mass. At first sight the two pieces appear the same, but on closer inspection they differ in shape. As we move around the work, the importance of the holes becomes apparent; looking through them we see not only the landscape but a portion of the other form. The surface is smooth in some parts and textured in others, which gives a sensation of depth and shade. As with many of the sculptures on display at Kew, the space between the two forms is critical to the monumentality of the piece.
I see an enormous pair of scissors embedded into the ground, its wonderful