David Nash at Kew: A Natural Gallery

Throne (1991, beech)

Throne presides over the central crossways in the Temperate House, Its pale beech wood contrasts with the vibrant green of surrounding vegetation.

This work is in the Temperate House.

Big Tongue (1988, ash)

Near the Temperate House centre-piece, sits the characterful Big Tongue, lolling out from tripod legs. Tripods are a form Nash has been exploring since the 1970s. This sculpture is made from ash.

Apple Jacob (2009, bronze)

Many of Nash’s sculptures allude to man’s dependence on nature – and specifically wood – for basic survival tools and utensils. The bowl shape is one example; another is ladders and steps, represented here by Apple Jacob.

This work is in the Temperate House.

Cube, Sphere, Pyramid (2010, bronze)

This bronze cube, sphere, pyramid grouping is on display among the Temperate House tree ferns. Their geometric shapes interact with the organic growth patterns of the black trunks.

This work is in the Temperate House.

Overlap (1994, elm)

In this work made from elm, intricate cuts and levels have been created that combine to give a striking impression of woven wood.

This work is in the Temperate House.

Red Frame (2008, sequoia)

Red Frame is made of redwood. The work juxtaposes with the Crack and Warp Column also on display in the Temperate House, by its shape and weight, and by the colour contrast between its blonde sapwood and red heartwood.

Red Throne (2012, bronze)

Red Throne had a wood predecessor, which David Nash carved from yew in 1989. Working with metals is a relatively recent development for Nash. On a purely practical level it enables him to create works that will endure. At a deeper level, it extends his understanding of working with the elements.

This work is in the Temperate House.

Plateau (2011, bronze)

In Plateau, the block forms a special resting place for the three universal forms, enabling the eye to look directly onto and across the cube, pyramid, sphere grouping.

This work is in the Temperate House.

Napa Ladders (1990, Californian oak)

Many of Nash’s sculptures allude to man’s dependence on nature – and specifically wood – for basic survival tools and utensils. In this work, Nash has followed the form of the tree to create two ladder-like sculptures.

This work is in the Temperate House.

Mizunara Bowl (1994, oak)

The solid, inviting form of Mizunara Bowl is sited at the central entrance of the Temperate House. It was sculpted in Japan in early 1994, as part of Nash’s Spirit of Three Seasons project and is made from mizunara wood, a Japanese oak with a particularly high moisture content – mizu means water in Japanese.

This work is in the Temperate House.

Furrowed Oak (1991, oak)

Furrowed Oak sits low down among the plants in the Temperate House. Its form – a ball shape growing into an extended limb – offers an impression of length rather than height. Its length and the base-width are accentuated by deep cuts, the ‘furrows’ to which its name refers.

This work is in the Temperate House.

Crossed Egg (2002, bronze)

The egg is a pure, simple form, one that, like seeds, is full of potential and energy. In this piece, these associations combine with others suggested through Nash’s use of the cross shape, taking away from the egg form by cutting crosses out of it.

This work is in the Temperate House.

King and Queen II (2008, bronze)

This bronze was cast at a fine art foundry from Nash's original wood sculpture, which would not last well outside due to the intricacy of its form. The original King and Queen I was made from oak.

See this sculpture at Kew Gardens, as part of the David Nash at Kew: A Natural Gallery exhibition.

Black Butt (2011)

This bronze was cast at a fine art foundry from Nash's original wood sculpture, which would not last well outside due to the intricacy of its form. The original Black Butt was made from elm.

See this sculpture at Kew Gardens, as part of the David Nash at Kew: A Natural Gallery exhibition.

Cairn Column (2012)

Cairn Column is made from a high-quality piece of Sussex oak, free of any decayed areas, unusually for a tree of over two hundred years old. The trunk had a natural lean which Nash worked with to create the animated, slightly askew form. The column was charred in fire, scraped down and given a second charring with a propane torch, resulting in a deep, tight, even char.

Iron Dome (2010, cast iron)

Iron Dome consists of many cast iron pieces of varying heights, the tallest 2.8 metres high. The sculpture was made in China by producing polythene blocks cut with hot wire, which were then cast in iron.

Torso (2011, bronze)

This bronze was cast at a fine art foundry from Nash's original wood sculpture, which would not last well outside due to the intricacy of its form. The original Torso was made from oak.

See this sculpture at Kew Gardens, as part of the David Nash at Kew: A Natural Gallery exhibition.

Three Butts (2010, eucalyptus)

Three Butts is made from eucalyptus sourced from California, where it is being cleared. Eucalyptus was introduced to California in the 1850s to use as fuel for locomotives but has spread to become a significant threat to native flora and fauna.

Oculus Block (2010, eucalyptus)

Oculus Block was created from a mighty eucalyptus tree grown in California, where the trees are being cleared as they are a significant pest to local flora and fauna. This gigantic piece of wood was formed by four individual trunks fusing to become a single tree with a space – the ‘oculus’ (meaning eye in Latin) – running right up its length. Nash was originally sourcing eucalyptus with the idea of making a giant sphere, but the intriguing squarish shape of the tree immediately suggested a block form.

Black Sphere (2004, charred oak)

Black Sphere contains echoes of Nash’s Cube Sphere Pyramid works and his celebrated Wooden Boulder. It is constructed from oak beams of varying diameters layered and slotted together to form the sphere.