Xu Bing Installation Unveiled at Chatsworth House

Chatsworth House Photo: Michael Smith/Guzelian

 

Chatsworth House, the stately home and seat of the Duke of Devonshire is due to undergo a transformation this summer, the Telegraph reports. The estate’s best known landmark, The Sea Horse Fountain, situated on the South Lawn for over 300 years, is due to be temporarily removed to undergo urgent restoration. Taking its place will be Tao Hua Yuan: A Lost Village, an installation by Chinese artist Xu Bing.

The installation was inspired by a fifth century Chinese fable, “Tao Hua Yuan (Peach Blossom Spring)” written by the scholar Tao Qian about a utopian society in which people live in harmony with nature. At first glance the artwork looks like a rock formation scattered around the pond, upon closer inspection the multiple crevices reveal intricate details such as plants and tiny model villages made from ceramic figures.

According to a poll conducted by Visit Britain, Chatsworth is the second most popular tourist destination for Chinese visitors after Buckingham Palace. The installation is likely to prove lucrative, as Chinese tourists spend on average four times more than tourists visiting from other countries.

The exhibition runs from September 8 – October 26 and will coincide with Sotheby’s annual Beyond Limits sculpture exhibition. It will be the first time that the South Lawn has been open to the public.


Follow Artnet News on Facebook:


Want to stay ahead of the art world? Subscribe to our newsletter to get the breaking news, eye-opening interviews, and incisive critical takes that drive the conversation forward.
Article topics