Forest Fugue
David Kemp 1984
Photograph by Mark Prior
The superb photograph above, taken by Mark Prior, shows the sculpture when it was new. Most of the sculptures work equally well in either wooded or newly-felled surroundings, but to be honest, something was lost when the trees around 'Forest Fugue' were cut down. That sense of being in the aisle of a grand cathedral was gone, and that was a huge part of the piece. Still, at least it became easier to find.
Also by this artist:
The Chariot 1980
The Heron 1981
Rook Crossing 1981
Scale Green Birdman 1981
Deer Hunter 1982
The Woodwinders 1984
The Ancient Forester 1988
'Forest Fugue' was hardier than it looked; despite its seemingly fragile appearance it sat by the junction north of High Bowkerstead for over twenty years, and fragments can still be seen if you know where to look. Over to Kemp for the description:
Forest Fugue is situated in one of the long aisles, made by timber thinning operations in a spruce plantation. The aisle is reminiscent of a cathedral (or maybe cathedrals are reminiscent of trees). The sculpture plays a silent requiem for the stumps."
As Kemp remarks, the site was an evocative one. The trees in the area were eventually felled however, leaving 'Forest Fugue' wide open, along with other sculptures occupying this patch ('Habitat' and 'Wolves' if we're naming names). The better part of Kemp's grand piece survived this exposure to the elements and new trees have since grown up around what remains.
