Linger an exhibition of Sitting Places

16 May – 9 September 2020 

Following on from the hugely successful summer 2019 Art Unbound exhibition, the Rococo Garden, in Painswick, Gloucestershire, is staging ‘Linger’ – an exhibition of ‘sitting places’ – for summer 2020. We are putting a call out to artists, designer-makers and artisans for imaginative approaches to the creation of garden seating. The work will complement the spirit of the Garden and encourage appreciation of its character. As such ‘Linger’ will be an invitation for visitors to take the weight off their feet and while away time as they soak up the beauty of their surroundings.

We will produce a map to accompany the exhibition, which will be advertised locally and nationally. All works will be for sale, unless an artist stipulates otherwise. Works, if sold, must remain in the Garden until the end of the exhibition. Artists are responsible for the transport, installation and de-installation of their pieces. 

BRIEF
These sitting places should be made from the kind of materials that would have been available in the 1740s and, where possible, locally sourced. We are open to all kinds of interpretations. The pieces selected will be for sale. As such, we are looking for a range of work, from high-end conceptual installations to affordable, functional pieces.

NARRATIVE for reference
Back in the 1740s, Benjamin Hyett designed an unusual garden to entertain his guests at Painswick House. This was a theatrical place, nestled in a hidden valley and perfect for holding intimate garden parties. It was a country gentleman's experimental creation, not the realisation of a horticultural dream. Instead of an orderly flower garden, this is a haven of peace and tranquillity to explore, sprinkled with quirky features ‘to tickle your fancy’.

Rococo describes a period of art fashionable in Europe in the 1700s, identifiable particularly in furniture and architecture. Some of the key features include highly ornamental decoration, the use of pastel colours and asymmetry. The art of the period often celebrated beauty and sexuality.

In England, this was a time when there was a certain ‘joie de vivre’ amongst the upper- middle classes. They showed off their wealth through indulging in the flamboyant and frivolous. Their gardens became the playroom of the house – spaces where they entertained and partied.

EXECUTION
We are inviting applications for imaginative, artistic approaches to seating, using materials readily available in the 1740s. Your piece must, therefore, be fit-for-purpose, i.e. strong, durable, appropriate for outdoor use and comfortable to sit on – and supplied ready to install. We have some felled green wood, mainly ash, onsite and would also be open to a discussion about the possibility of creating pieces in situ.