Cambridge School of Art BA Hons Fine Art students held a recent exhibition in a very different venue; Cambridge University Botanic Gardens. The exhibition, which was on display from 15th May to 1st June, explored the juxtaposition of nature and art(ifice) through the arrangement of a variety of man-made sculptures in a natural setting. Pieces jarred, harmonised and echoed with the surrounding environment. In amongst the cacti one could find the 'lost property cactus' a sculpture made up of lost gloves and socks; a witty antithesis to the prickles of the surrounding cacti.

Coming across the sculptures was often a surprise as they hung from trees as if an extension of the branches or appeared to grow naturally from the ground. Others, such as a stainless steel piece, allowed an alternative way to view the gardens and enhanced their natural beauty. The students' lecturer Douglas Jeal said: "The pieces were created with the Botanic Gardens in mind and took two days to put up; we even needed the help of a tree climber to hang some of the pieces. It was worth the work though as the pieces look great."

Not only was this unique exhibition a useful learning experience for the students to understand the relevance of an exhibition space in relation their work but also caused visitors to the gardens to question the nature of art and the artistry of nature, and the relationship between the two.

 

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