Lucy + Jorge Orta at Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Date uploaded: July 8, 2013
Lucy + Jorge Orta at Yorkshire Sculpture Park
20th July - 3rd November 2013
On July 20th 2013, a presentation of new and recent work by Lucy + Jorge Orta opens at Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP). Located in YSP's Longside Gallery and on the park grounds, this important exhibition revolves around the theme of water, central to Orta's practice. Alongside archival works the artists launch two major new commissions: Raft of the Medusa and Spirits of the Huveaune - Ubelka.
Raft of the Medusa is inspired by Géricault's 1818-19 shipwreck painting Le Radeau de la Méduse. Constructed in the form of a radeau de fortune, this unusual patchwork assemblage of driftwood, lacquered glass, oil drums, giant oars and a cloud roof resembles a large raft, out of which juts an imposing ladder-cum-mast. The sculpture is laden with allusions to waters power to save or destroy and to the perilous journeys many migrants are still forced to take in search of refuge.
Also unveiled is Ubelka, a larger than life female figure cast in bronze belonging to Orta's ongoing Spirits series. Weaving a link between past and present, Spirits refers to the water cycle and its poetic representation through myth and legend around Marseilles Huveaune river, where five earlier works now permanently reside. Ubelka is the mother goddess of water, the maternal figure from whom the river takes its original name. Ubelka at YSP is generously enabled by Pangolin Editions.
Orta have designed two limited edition plates exclusively for YSP that draw from their 70x7 The Meal series, bringing people together ad infinitum around the ritual of eating. Made in Royal Limoges porcelain with a four-colour enamel process including platinum silver accents, the plates feature the artists drawings and are signed and numbered on the reverse. Each plate encased in a presentation box is available for £160.
