As one of the oldest art forms, monumental sculpture has been presented in spectacular outdoor settings since antiquity. The princely estates of Renaissance and Baroque Europe were populated with marble nymphs and classical deities. Major art museums throughout the world feature large-scale sculpture in their gardens and courtyards. But the idea of a park or garden conceived expressly for the display of sculpture is essentially a modern
phenomenon. This lecture is an account of the rise and role of the sculpture park. It traces the creation – from the mid-twentieth century onwards – of public and private sculpture parks in Europe, the US and Japan, and includes recent and remarkable examples in New Zealand and Australia.
Geoffrey Edwards was Director of the Geelong Art Gallery, one of Australia’s oldest and largest regional galleries. Prior to this appointment, he held Senior Curatorial positions at the National Gallery of Victoria where he was in charge of the collections of International and Australian sculpture and Melbourne’s celebrated holdings of ancient, antique and modern glass. He is the author of various monographs, numerous exhibition catalogues, and has contributed to journals in Australia, Japan, Britain and the US. Geoffrey is a Trustee of The Johnston Collection and a Curatorial Advisor for the Pt Leo Estate Sculpture Park.
This program is supported by The Colin Holden Charitable Trust.
Your ticket includes tea or Market Lane coffee served before the lecture, and time to browse our exclusive range of books, gifts, and homewares at TJC Emporium.
This lecture is presented on-site at The Johnston Collection. Please see your ticket for details. NOTE: Tickets for this event do not include access to our exhibition-house, Fairhall. Guided tours of the current exhibition can be booked separately.
Image: KAWS, Share. Pt Leo Estate Sculpture Park, Merricks. Photo: Chris McConville
