Wolterton, Norfolk – An imaginative exhibition featuring Phyllida Barlow’s punk irreverence transforms a historic stately home with installations ranging from exploding plywood chairs to what resembles gum stuck to the walls.
Wolterton Hall, a grand Palladian mansion built by Thomas Ripley for Horatio Walpole, is situated deep in the Norfolk countryside. Once a significant estate, the interior is adorned with 18th-century treasures, furniture, Belgian tapestries, and portraits of influential figures. However, the space is now punctuated by Barlow’s distinct creations: knobbly, bodily forms, and strangely familiar shapes adorning walls and cascading down stairs, giving the impression that Phyllida Barlow has taken over and created a “trashed” environment.
The challenge of how to repurpose former country stately homes is often met with contemporary art programs aimed at engaging with their history and attracting new audiences. Simon Oldfield, the artistic director at Wolterton, appointed by the new owners, the Ellis family, two years ago, has significantly reinvented the space, creating an environment receptive to new artistic ideas. Barlow’s work is particularly suited to this, as her pieces often possess a dynamic quality that adapts to their surroundings.
The exhibition commences at the entrance with Barlow’s explosive installation, “Untitled: Stacked Chairs.” The striking arrangement of red plywood chairs evokes a sense of discarding the old and embracing a fresh start, embodying a rebellious, disruptive, and direct artistic statement.
Phyllida Barlow: Disruptor review – Sexy Latex and Gobs of Gum as a Stately Home Gets Trashed
Wolterton, Norfolk – An imaginative exhibition by Phyllida Barlow brings a punk irreverence to a stately home, featuring everything from explosive plywood chairs to what appears to be bubblegum adhered to the walls.
Wolterton Hall, a magnificent Palladian mansion in Norfolk, once a significant country estate, is now home to an exhibition by Phyllida Barlow. While the interiors still boast 18th-century treasures, tapestries, and portraits, Barlow’s art has transformed the space. Her works, described as “knobbly bodily things” and “strange almost familiar shapes,” are strategically placed on walls and stairs, creating an atmosphere as if Barlow herself had disrupted and reconfigured the historic setting.
Many former stately homes are finding new life through contemporary art programs designed to acknowledge their past while attracting contemporary audiences. Simon Oldfield, appointed as artistic director by the new owners, the Ellis family, has particularly revitalized Wolterton Hall, making it a venue for innovative artistic expression. Barlow, known for her powerful and site-specific installations, is an ideal artist for this endeavor, as her creations tend to imbue any space with their own unique presence.
The exhibition opens with “Untitled: Stacked Chairs,” an impactful installation at the entrance. The vibrant red plywood chairs are arranged in a way that suggests a forceful act of clearing out and beginning anew, conveying a message of rebellion, disruption, and directness.