Press Release

Henry Moore at Kew Gardens

15 September 2007 – 30 March 2008

Supported by The Gatsby Charitable Foundation

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is to host a landmark exhibition of monumental works by the internationally acclaimed sculptor Henry Moore. 28 large-scale sculptures will be exhibited in Kew 's unique 300 acre World Heritage Site landscape, making this the first exhibition of its kind ever to be held in London.

There have been previous exhibitions of Moore's work in the capital but never on such a scale and in a landscape setting. The Henry Moore Foundation have curated the exhibition and selected a combination of pieces that have never been brought together before, including some that have never been seen in London .

This powerful exhibition will highlight the inspiration that Moore took from nature and his enjoyment of seeing his works in a landscape setting. In 1958 Moore began creating works of sculpture on a very large scale that break the confines of the traditional gallery space and demand to be seen in the open. Moore liked to see his work in nature and placed it in the landscape around his home in the English countryside. This setting – with its space and changing natural light – emphasised for him the enduring and harmonious relationship of man to the natural world, one of the fundamentals of his sculpture.

‘Landscape has been for me one of the sources of my energy… I find that all natural forms are a source of unending interest – tree trunks… the texture and variety of grasses… The whole of Nature is an endless demonstration of shape and form.' (Henry Moore; Energy in Space, 1973)

The exhibition encourages visitors to engage with the sculptures and landscape on several levels. Visitors will be drawn around the Gardens to enjoy the sculptures set against a variety of striking backdrops, from the formal gardens and great glasshouses to lawns and majestic trees. The experience of witnessing the sculptures in the landscape will change throughout the seasons, from the blaze of autumnal reds and gold through the cool light and stark outlines of winter to the riot of spring colour, from the fresh green of new leaves to bright yellow swathes of daffodils and purple crocus carpets.

Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Professor Stephen Hopper, said ‘We are delighted to host such a significant exhibition at Kew. Henry Moore was not only one of the 20th century's greatest sculptors but he also took his inspiration from nature and the unique landscape of Kew Gardens provides a fitting backdrop for his work. Our visitors will be able to enjoy a walk in a beautiful environment through the changing seasons of autumn, winter and spring with the benefit of a great arts experience at the same time.'

David Mitchinson, Head of Collections and Exhibitions at the Henry Moore Foundation, added that 'Henry Moore always wanted his sculpture to be free standing, capable of being seen in the round from all three hundred and sixty degrees, and for this the open landscape of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, provides the perfect setting. The combination of foliage, lawns, vistas, water, and architecture in the changing seasonal light will give both Londoners and visitors the opportunity of viewing Moore's monumental bronzes in unison with nature.' The exhibition experience will be enhanced by innovative audio guides to the sculptures, delivered via visitors' mobile phones. Full details will be available on the website, www.kew.org/henry-moore during the exhibition.

As part of this festival, the Nash Conservatory will be hosting an exhibition providing some background to the work of Henry Moore. It will show 12 of Moore's maquettes, some of which were prepared for the pieces displayed at Kew . Here visitors will have the opportunity for a more intimate insight into the artist's influences, key themes and working methods. There will be a selection of ‘found objects' on display, these were the inspiration for much of Moore's sculpture and illustrate how his influences evolved into art. The practical side of this will also be illustrated by a selection of tools used by Moore in his work.

The exhibition will be supported by numerous events and activities. The Art of Henry Moore, a film made by Illuminations, will be screened in the Princess of Wales Conservatory during opening hours from the 15 September. This provides an overview of Henry Moore's life and career and includes insightful interviews with the artist himself. There will also be special guided tours of the Gardens and sculptures, two public lectures, a programme of children's activities and a suite of art and craft courses designed in association with Richmond Adult Community College. A catalogue will also be available for a more detailed guide to the exhibition. At www.kew.org/henry-moore, visitors will be able to enter their photographs into a competition for the best shots of the combined beauty of Moore at Kew. Winners will be chosen by experts and popular vote, and will have their photographs displayed at Kew during 2008.

The website, www.kew.org/henry-moore will also feature in depth details of all the sculptures, the ability to plan routes around them, and a range of interactive resources.

On Saturday 13 October, Kew will be taking part in the national Big Draw event. Visitors will have the opportunity to watch and participate in a number of art based projects around the Gardens, taking inspiration from the Moore sculptures, but also drawing on some of the global science projects currently being undertaken by Kew.

An extensive range of gifts linked with Moore at Kew will also be on display at the Victoria Plaza shop.  The wide selection of books on his work complements Kew’s contemporary range of Henry Moore sketch pads, stationery, mugs, t-shirts and bags.

Ends

Further Information

Members of the public looking for more information can visit www.kew.org/henry-moore.

Journalists can visit www.kew.org/press or contact Anna Quenby, Catherine Owen or Oliver Basciano in the RBG Kew Press Office. Telephone: 020 8332 5607. E-mail: pr@kew.org.

For images, please visit www.kew.org/press/images. Please contact the press office for password.

For further information about the Henry Moore Foundation, please contact:
Sarah Cockburn, Communications Officer on 0113 233 7653 (direct) / 0113 246 7467, email sarah@henry-moore.ac.uk or visit: www.henry-moore-fdn.co.uk

Notes to Editors

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Kew Gardens is a major international visitor attraction and its 132 hectares of landscaped gardens attract over one million visitors per year. Kew was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2003 and represents over 250 years of historical landscape. The site houses over 40 listed buildings and other structures including the Palm House, Temperate House, Orangery and Pagoda as well as two ancient monuments, Queen Charlotte's Cottage and Kew Palace. RBG, Kew is a world famous scientific organisation, internationally respected for its outstanding living collection of plants and world-class herbarium as well as its scientific expertise in plant diversity, conservation and sustainable development in the UK and around the world. www.kew.org.

The Henry Moore Foundation

The Henry Moore Foundation maintains the artist's studios and grounds at Perry Green in Hertfordshire, as well as the world's largest collection of Moore 's sculpture, drawings, graphics, textiles and tapestries. The Foundation is open to visitors from April to October, by appointment, 01279 843333.  The collection is managed from Perry Green by the curatorial staff, who are actively involved in the research, support and curating of Moore 's work worldwide. www.henry-moore-fdn.co.uk.

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