Over the last two days we have revealed the ring of pleached hornbeams and the circle of benches that sit within it. We’re finally in the centre of Shakespeare’s New Place, the area that designers Timothy O’Brien and Chris Wise call the Heart of the Home. It houses something truly extraordinary.
‘His Mind’s Eye’ is the focal point of Shakespeare’s New Place. Sculptor Jill Berelowitz has brought an evocative story of Shakespeare’s creative genius to life through an astonishing combination of elements. An almost bare bronze tree stands nearly fives metres high and six metres across in canopy. The structure is partly made of sections of a specially selected hawthorn tree from Box Hill, a National Trust property in Surrey. Its branches are swept to the side with the force of Shakespeare’s genius - more on that tomorrow.
Under the tree sits a sphere, massive and elemental. One half shines miraculously bright, reflecting Shakespeare’s lambent vision, while the other remains in shadow, still rough and pitted like an asteroid…
The overall effect is breathtaking, and we can’t wait to share it with you.
Shakespeare’s New Place opens Summer 2016. Come and walk in Shakespeare's footsteps and meet the man behind the works in a fascinating new exhibition. Discover beautiful gardens and specially-commissioned artworks.
Find out more about Shakespeare's New Place.