There Are Lots Of Strange Sculptures In Regent's Park Right Now

Tabish Khan
By Tabish Khan Last edited 89 months ago

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There Are Lots Of Strange Sculptures In Regent's Park Right Now
Claude Lalanne's surreal giant cabbage with chicken legs certainly grabs the eye.

So we’ve given you the lowdown on the Frieze art fairs. Now, what about the sculpture park? It’s here for a much longer period, sticking around until the end of the year. But is it worth a visit?

Jump in and get spun around 180 degrees.

We've always had a special place in our heart for the sculpture park — it's the democratic, i.e. free, part of Frieze.

You're just as likely to spot joggers and people grabbing a lunchtime sandwich enjoying the art, as you are art fans.

Claes Oldenburg is having some fun with a giant discarded cigarette.

It starts off with some fun works. We step inside a chamber that's rotated while we stand inside it and exit after a 180 degree spin. We may not come out with a new perspective on life but it's a bizarre and fun experience — as is the the giant cabbage with legs by Claude Lalanne.

Claes Oldenburg makes us smile with his giant fag-end on a plinth. Oldenburg specialises in glorifying the mundane and a discarded cigarette is perfect for Regent's Park, next to the glamour of Frieze.

A human like hare by Barry Flanagan.

We also liked a chemical representation of influential thinkers by Goshka Macuga, with metal rods acting as bonds holding together the heads of Marx, Nietzsche and Gorbachev.

But after this the works progress into the more introspective, and even the usually-reliable artists like Paolozzi warrant merely a shrug with his sculpture of pipes in two different shapes. Conrad

Shawcross is everywhere in London right now, having just revealed his Optic Cloak in Greenwich and having been present at the 2015 sculpture park and Royal Academy Summer Show courtyard. We can't help feel it's a space that could have been better used by an unknown.

Jean Dubuffet's work injects some colour into the sculpture park.

One work took us ages to find, as it's essentially zinc plates bolted onto trees. This conceptual approach by Ed Herring isn't clear, and placing such a small piece within Regent's Park goes against the whole idea of making this accessible to all.

The sculpture park is at its best when presenting visually striking works that also challenge the viewer. But the northerly half this year focuses too much on well known artists, rather than including sculptures likely to inspire people.

Still, it's free. and you'll undoubtedly have your own opinions. Go.

The Frieze Sculpture Park 2016 is on display until 8 January 2017. Entrance is free but for the best experience make sure you download the free Art Fund app which provides much more information on each sculpture.

For more see our guide to Frieze week.

Last Updated 07 October 2016