The Body and Void Exhibition at The Henry Moore Foundation, Perry Green.

Last year, on its last day, I went to see the Rodin Moore Exhibition at the Henry Moore Foundation in Perry Green, Hertfordshire. I loved the exhibition and wrote my review with enthusiasm. I realised, however, that it might have been a better idea to visit the exhibition on the first day so that my review could be read by other people in time for them to be able to visit Perry Green! This year when I heard of the Body and Void: Echoes of Moore in Contemporary Art Exhibition, again at Perry Green, I decided to go early and write my review in plenty of time! So ... this is it.

My husband and I tootled off through the Hertfordshire countryside of high hedgerows and picturesque villages last Friday. The skies were grey, but, to be honest, whatever the weather the Henry Moore Foundation is always a treat to visit. Its like stepping back in time, to a place where the world is quiet apart from the gentle hum of bees and the rustling of the wind through leaves.

We bought our tickets in the little shop and were shown where to go by the very friendly lady behind the counter. You will find, if you visit, that one of the best things about Perry Green is the staff, largely volunteers, who man the galleries and workshops. They are all friendly, enthusiastic and endlessly knowledgeable about the art on display. They are eager to share their joy, which I find infectious!

We wandered off around the beautiful gardens of Hoglands, Moore's home, where his and other artists sculptures are installed. The Body and Void Exhibition is a celebration of Moore's work and legacy. Artists such as Anish Kapoor, Damien Hirst, Rachel Whiteread and Richard Long have been invited to contribute work to the exhibition, alongside work by not only Moore, but Thomas Schutte, Paul Noble, Antony Gormley and a host of others. It is fascinating to see how Moore has influenced and inspired a whole generation of artists.

Rachel Whiteread's Detached 3 2012

One of the first pieces we came across was Rachel Whiteread's Detached 3. At first glance, walking across the grass, you think its just a shed, one of many buildings scattered around the grounds, but then you realise that this is a concrete cast of the inside of a shed. It is the hidden space, the void, which is usually never seen. There is something brilliant about this idea to me. I loved the idea of making solid something that is normally hidden and unconsidered. As we went into the Body and Void gallery we saw another Rachel Whiteread work which, again, cast the void in solid form...

Rachel Whiteread Pink Torso 1995 ( photo courtesy of britishcouncil.org)

Can you see what it is? The space inside a hot water bottle ...  a space you would never normally see. I loved that idea!

The theme of the void is something that Moore explored and with Reclining Figure: External Form 1953-54 he combines this with another of his favourite subjects, the reclining female figure. The form is hollowed out to show not only the voluptuous curves of the body, but also the interior spaces. As with many of Moore's works I just feel compelled to touch the surfaces, explore the curves and textures. Beautiful!

I think that another thing I love about Perry Green is the continuing inspiration Moore gives to up and coming artists and students. As we walked around the grounds there were, and always are, people sitting on the grass or standing near the sculptures, sketch books in hand, drawing. The calm is captivating.

Henry Moore Two Piece Reclining Figure: Cut 1979-81

For me, one of the strongest images, and one that had not struck me so intensely previously, was that of the void between two forms. Above you can see Moore's figure cut in two. The void between the two pieces is as powerful, if not more so, as the bronze pieces themselves.In my opinion there is an energy between two forms that used to touch and no longer do, or almost touch and never will. This theme is seen again and again, not only in Moore's work, but that of others too ...

Henry Moore's Working Model for Oval with Points, Michelangelo's Adam, Des Hughes' One Thing Leads to Another, Damien Hirst's Mother and Child (Divided),

I think my husband thought I had lost my mind, but I could really feel the energy in those spaces. I love that something that is not actually 'there' can be so powerful! When we visited the Body and Void gallery and saw Damien Hirst's Mother and Child (Divided) I just couldn't bring myself to walk between the two halves of the animals. It seemed somehow wrong - a space between two halves that should never have been separated. Again the space was very powerful - the act of separation intense.

As always I loved visiting Perry Green and its treasures. We visited the gallery, but also the workshops and here the staff were keen to give us insights into the works displayed. Their nuggets of information are so fascinating! If I was more knowledgeable I would love to volunteer there! They manage to share what they know without making you feel like an ignoramus - rather that you are part of an excellent adventure into the world of Art!!

The Body and Void Exhibition is on all summer until 26th October 2014. I really recommend it for an inspiring day out. Let me know if you go!!

The Moore Rodin Exhibition at Perry Green and Compton Verney

A few years ago now I discovered a gem of a place, hidden away in a tiny English village, where time seems to stand still and all is right with the world. The place I am talking about is the Henry Moore Foundation at Perry Green.

I first visited with friends and , if I am honest with you, I had no real idea about who Henry Moore was. I had a vague vision of big, modern sculptures, but that was it. Since that day I have been several times and each time I learn more about Henry Moore, his work, his life and how his amazing sculptures were created.

Over the summer months the Foundation has been running a superb exhibition featuring the combined work of both Henry Moore and Auguste Rodin. I have been meaning to go and visit all summer, but have never got round to it - what with work and children and life in general. Yesterday morning I woke up and when I looked out of my bedroom window to discover that the weather was dry I seized the bull by the horns and jumped in the car to head off to Perry Green. There was only one day of the exhibition left and I could not bear to miss it.

Moore and Rodin never met, but Moore was a great admirer of Rodin's work and the exhibition cleverly juxtaposes work from both men that shows the connection between them. A comment left at the Musee Rodin in Paris noted, with great insight, that "Moore is Rodin after Cubism". The thing that struck me most as I walked around the leafy grounds of the Foundation was the power of both artists' works. They both capture the "core essence" of the human form.

Monument to the Burghers of Calais - Rodin 1889

Moore considered the bronze sculpture above, Rodin's Monument to the Burghers of Calais to be the best public sculpture in London and I found myself drawn to it, circling around and around, moved by the incredible power of the work. Its hard to explain and probably difficult to convey with only a photograph, but I was so moved by the beauty of this piece.

In particular I found the face and hand of the man above stunningly beautiful. You may laugh, and my husband certainly did, but I found myself fighting back the tears as I studied it. The power of emotion in his face, his hand, is perfect. To achieve this in bronze, to achieve it at all, is a wonder.

Both Rodin and Moore studied the human figure, both fascinated by the human torso and in the inside gallery at Perry Green their works were placed close to each other so one could really see the similarities. A couple of examples that I loved were of torsos. At first glance they may seem totally different, but they both share the same curves. My mind could imagine the stretching muscles of a dancer's body in both ...

Torso of a Young Woman Auguste Rodin 1909

(photo courtesy of The Bridgeman Art Library)

Pointed Torso Henry Moore 1969

(photo courtesy of Juxtapost)

I also loved the artists sculptures of hands ...

Mother and Child Hands Henry Moore 1980

The Cathedral Auguste Rodin 1909

I am not an expert in Art or Sculpture, but I am interested in it and always keen to visit exhibitions.I don't think you have to be an expert to enjoy works of power and beauty, do you? The wonderful thing about the Henry Moore Foundation is that the people who work there are full of incredible information and are so very generous in sharing their knowledge. You get the impression that they love working there, that they see their work as a privilege.

It is possible to visit Moore's workshop and maquette studio and I highly recommend this.Inside the staff explain how each piece was created, from start to finish. In the maquette studio there is a small model or maquette of every single piece Moore ever created. They would sit on the shelves, sometimes for years,before a client would choose one that touched them and Moore would go about creating the full scale work.

Some jump out at you, others nestle quietly.

In this photo you can see the maquettes for The Arch (left foreground) and for the Double Oval ( back wall, second partition from left, on right of second shelf)

Who would guess that inside such unassuming buildings are such magical works of art?

The grounds at Perry Green are extensive and scattered around them were works by both Moore and Rodin. From small scale pieces like Rodin's The Fallen Caryatid with Stone or Moore's Upright Motive No 9 to some of the huge and monumental pieces more often associated with Henry Moore.

Every time I visit they seem different - different light, different skies - always fresh and striking. This time was particularly stunning as the sky was stormy and dramatic.

The Fallen Caryatid with Stone Rodin

Upright Motive No 9 Moore

I love that one can be wandering through an apple orchard one moment, in a sheep field the next and through the trees, at the end of a path, are the most fantastic sculptures. 

Three Piece Reclining Figure Draped Moore 1975

Walking Man on a Column Rodin 1900

If you are reading this and feeling annoyed that you have missed the exhibition ... Do Not Despair!!

The exhibition is moving to Warwickshire and will open on 15th February 2014 at Compton Verney where it will stay until 31st August 2014. If you can make it I would recommend that you do. The Moore Rodin Exhibition is just wonderful.

Henry Moore in the English Countryside - wonderful!!

Until a short time ago I knew nothing about Henry Moore. I had heard of him and thought vaguely of big bulky sculptires when he came into my head... but nothing else. A friend suggested we take the children to visit the Henry Moore Foundation at Perry Green, spending the day and having a picnic in the grounds... so we did.



I cannot recommend the Foundation enough. Booking our tickets on-line was a dream and the personal and friendly service afforded us by the staff there was second to none. The Foundation itself is based around Henry Moore's home in the beautiful hamlet of Perry Green. To reach it involves winding your way down country lanes, past thatched cottages and ancient pubs, village greens and woodland.





Once there we opted to walk around the grounds - there are 70 acres - sprinkled with magnificent sculptures. They are breath taking and all of us were thrilled by them. I just wanted to touch them, walk around them and drink in their grandeur. My favourites were the vertebrae - sparkling in the summer sun - and the loops... all higher by far than us and monumental in their structure.


The archway below rose out of a wild flower meadow like a pre-historic creature. Henry Moore took his inspiration from many things, but mainly from natural forms - fossils, bones,interesting stones, skulls. He sketched them and worked them up from small maquettes ( models) in stages to the massive pieces on exhibition in the grounds of the Foundation.




The Foundation at Perry Green is a stunning place. You can tour around Moore's restored home and it is as if he might walk back into the room at any moment. His cardigan hangs on the back of his chair and the smell of freshly brewed coffee hangs in the air. He collected art as well as creating and in his sitting room hangs a Renoir, in his kitchen a Picasso!



I am desperate to go back to visit more thoroughly. I did not have time to see all the workshops on this visit. There are studios and galleries as well as exhibitions of textiles and sculpture. It is a wonderful place and if you find yourself down Hertfordshire way you could do worse than plan a day here!To find a Henry Moore near you, click on this link and you will find a map of the world. Click on your country to find places where his work is exhibited.


Let me know how you get on!!