Lynn Chadwick at Houghton Hall
Lynn Chadwick’s work with the Laocoön in the Stone Hall at Houghton Hall.
I had a broad awareness of Lynn Chadwick’s work before this summer. Perhaps a slight sense of his biography. I had a very good awareness of Houghton Hall, after many visits over the years, enjoying both the wonderful historic interiors and the changing programme of contemporary sculpture. It’s still a pleasure, then, when a new display of sculpture puts the Hall into new light, as this summer’s Chadwick show did.
Large-scale works were shown throughout the grounds: human figures striding into the landscape or sitting in contemplation, animals seeming paused in exploration of the gardens; more abstract shapes forming compositions within the Hall’s more functional architectural spaces. One large kinetic piece in the main vista up to the house was sadly marred by a large barrier having to be put in place to protect less observant visitors.
Within the house, smaller sculptures and maquettes were a particular joy. The great stone hall plays host to a bronze copy of the famous ancient sculpture ‘the Laocoön’, which shows a trio of figures: father and sons being crushed by a sea serpent. Three bronze standing figures by Chadwick were arranged in particularly effective relationship with the Laocoön and the wonderful gilt-wood chandelier above.
Throughout the rooms, small animal maquettes seemed suspended in motion within the historic interiors: seeking the warmth from the fireplace; briefly posed on a side table; or, my particular favourite, one bird-like figure seeming to search for inspiration on the desk in the library. A trio of striking candlesticks also showed Chadwick’s wider oeuvre on the dining room table. Simply arranged with just these three, as opposed to the sumptuous laid tables that are sometimes on show, these were especially striking.
When I give careers talks, I always emphasise how the work of many curators is as much, if not more, about collections as it is about exhibitions. About long relationships with (and between) the same objects, as much as the researching and display of new ones. For me, this show demonstrated the power of curating: taking meaningful work and giving it new power through thoughtful placing in a different context, creating relationships with the Hall and interiors that make you see both differently.
I left inspired equally by the ancient and the modern, the architecture, the collections, and the natural surroundings. Contemporary interventions in historic spaces are now common and popular. Chadwick at Houghton shows why they are still powerful.
