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Raised Wall

Kees Bierman 1992

This imposing, jail cell-like structure sat just west of the main road, but because of the privately owned fields it managed to be quite out of the way. Bierman took a circular dry stone wall and lifted it, trophy-like, into the air using wooden legs, as he explained in 'Natural Order':

"Stone is predominant in the landscape of the Lake District. In the sculpture I have broken the direct relationship between stone and earth, by lifting up the dry stone wall and putting it on a wooden construction, which can then be perceived both visually and physically at eye level."

The above picture was taken on my only visit to the sculpture. I remember as a kid being able to walk inside with ease, and the wall was about head-height to my dad, who is around six foot, so it was a good-sized piece. The problem was that it was situated on a long forest road all by itself. It couldn't really be factored into your walk, instead it had to be the destination. By the time I went back a few years later armed with a decent camera, it had gone, presumably the wooden legs were struggling to support the wall.

Also by this artist:

Caged Wall 1986

The Sound Of Running Water 1986

Black Tower With Sarcophagus 1989

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