Dale Chihuly - Sapphire Star (2010)
Dale Chihuly’s glass artworks again grace Kew Gardens amidst the traditional sedate architecture and the newly-restored dragons on the Great Pagoda of 1762
Dale Chihuly - Niijima Floats (2010)
Dale Chihuly - Green hornets and Gold Waterdrops (2010)
Dale Chihuly - Ethereal White Persian Pond (2010)
Dale Chihuly’s glass artworks again grace Kew Gardens amidst the visitors and the newly-restored dragons on the Great Pagoda of 1762. His exhibition this year is titled “Reflections on Nature”; there are installations in the Temperate House and the Water Lily House as well as various locations outdoors in the gardens.
The traditional Kew garden environment is of sedate architecture as it’s a challenge to upstage real-life botany; Dale Chihuly’s work looks best to me when it integrates with or counter-points or “engages in a dialogue” with the botanical display rather than attempting to dominate the scene.
Dale Chihuly’s glass photographs readily whereas it’s always a challenge to convey adequately a garden in a photograph. So in photographs of the two together you are seeing a distortion of the balance between the two elements.
Thanks to Alan for guiding me on this visit.