A Landmark Moment For Cass Sculpture Foundation

Stretching across 26 acres of land in unassuming West Sussex woodlands is Cass Sculpture Foundation. Founded in 1992 by Wilfred and Jeannette Cass, the Foundation was seen as a means to commission spectacularly large-scale outdoor sculptures which would be exhibited on the grounds and later sold.

‘We knew sculptors had a really rough time so we wanted to do something to help them, but it was Henry Moore who really started the madness,’ say Jeannette and Wilfred. ‘He said art is best seen outdoors.’

Since it’s opening, the couple have invited over 200 artists to exhibit on their site including pioneering artists Tony Cragg, Philip King, Rachel Whiteread and Anthony Caro. This year, for the first time in the foundation’s 24 years of philanthropic work, it has commissioned art for a major exhibition by international artists.

“A Beautiful Disorder is a landmark moment for the Foundation as it is the first time we are commissioning works for a major exhibition by international artists. The exhibition will showcase contemporary Chinese sculpture by some of the leading Chinese artists.” says Cass Sculpture Foundation’s Executive Director, Clare Hindle.

The exhibition, appropriately titled ‘A Beautiful Disorder’, (open to the public till November 6th) sees the grounds of Cass play backdrop to commissioned works by 18 Chinese artists, who have responded with pieces in direct conversation to the Sussex countryside.

This is now the largest and first exhibit of its kind showcasing contemporary outdoor Chinese Sculpture in the UK.

The considered curation of pieces welcomes viewers to reflect and gain insight on China’s overall changing relationship with the world, providing further views on Chinese culture, politics and society today from the perspective of some of it’s most dynamic and engaging artists.

The artists were asked to reference the historic relationship between the aesthetics of English and Chinese landscapes, resulting in a very diverse collection as each individual artist’s interpretation and use of materials created separate dialogues with this narrative.

Visitors can expect to be greeted by a larger than life 3,000kg monochrome bust of the Communist leader Mao Zedong, nestled among the tree tops, which sits on a 17m by 9m plinth. The artist Song Ta has sprayed the surrounding woodland and landscape with a eco-friendly lime to create a monochrome backdrop – creating a perfect photo opportunity.

Elsewhere among the trees, concrete plug sockets rest neatly on tree trunks to make up the work of young artist Zhang Ruyi; this is perhaps the smallest pieces the foundation has commissioned. “We are so used to seeing sockets so it might not even strike us as odd that they are there,” said Teo. “It is a commentary on our reliance on technology, how we are disrupting the natural world and environment.”

Amongst the 18 participating artists are: Bi Rongrong, Cao Dan, Cao Fei Cheng Ran, Cui Jie, Jennifer Ma Wen, Li Jinghu, Lu Pingyuan, Xu Zhen (Produced by MadeIn Company), Rania Ho, Song Ta, Tu Wei-Cheng, Wang Sishun, Wang Wei, Wang Yuyang, Zhang Ruyi, Zheng Bo and Zhao Yao.

 

Text by Serene Khan