Ian Hamilton Findlay presentation

script
Ian Hamilton Findlay:

Ian Hamilton Findlay CBE: 1925 2006

Scottish poet, writer, artist and gardener.

Contributed to Postmodern garden design style
Married twice and had two children
At the end of ww2, Finlay worked as a shepherd, before beginning to write short
stories and poems, while living on Rousay, in Orkney
In 1963, Finlay published Rapel, his first collection of concrete poetry (poetry in which
the layout and typography of the words contributes to its overall effect) much of his
work was self-published
Chronic agoraphobia most of his adult life (extreme or irrational fear of open or public
places)
Uniquely designed but did not make his sculptures - created to precise specifications
by "collaborators".
Due to condition he hardly left the confines of Stonypath for over 30 years before his
death. Seldom able to see his works in situ Installation undertaken by his wife.
began to compose poems to be inscribed into stone, incorporating these sculptures
into the natural environment.
On the attack against arts-governing bodies he regarded as being in opposition to
his purity of purpose constant struggle against regulatory authorities

Influenced by;
Solitary reflection
World war Two
Time in Orkneys
Ancient classical structure and ruin
Shock factor of Nazi symbolism

Concrete Poetry:

An art in which the arrangement of the words on the page made a significant
contribution to the poet's meaning.
A way of spatially preconceiving the way in which the public will experience a
masterpiece.
Led naturally to the arrangement of words on stone, wood and other materials.
This in turn was used in landscapes and to evoke particular feeling when exposed to
artificial scenarios.

Concrete Poetry in Garden Design:

Saw all gardens as being in a permanent state of revolution.

The perfect canvas to display his thought provoking ideals
Finlay used single pieces to accentuate the landscape and question preconceptions.
Garden was an evolving stage with pieces as timeless actors

Notable Works:
Revolutionary Garden in Versailles(not built)
Tree-Shells (with Ian Gardner)
UNDA (in Little Sparta)

Little Sparta:
An old stone farm in The Pentland Hills
Ians home from 1966 - 2006
In 40 years he created 270 specially designed artworks for the property.
A celebration of a new way of thinking and method of expressing intense thoughts
Experimented with poems on freestanding cardboard before moving onto more permanent
mediums
Now open to the public and degree level students from Edinburgh University as a study centre.

Fleur de lair
In addition to his home he designed gardens on commission, such as Fleur de l'air in
Provence
Not public but book written in conjunction with the design and installation to the garden. All
photos black and white.
About 40 of his artworks, most of which were specially commissioned for this garden.
Advised on:
Planting of allees
Orchards of fruit trees
Re-establishment of terraces of lavender
Rosemary plantations
Introduction of working bee-hives.

Unique influence:
Feature walls and ornaments
Artists less afraid to go against status quo within gardens
Companies like David Harber have taken this garden display idea and
utilised it thoroughly.
Short sharp statements with and without words in gardens
Clients feel greater connection selection of words and phrases available.
Fuse both worlds for a heightened sense of being .
Licence to impose ownership and reflect personalities
Modern equivalent of hermits huts and pavilions in English landscape
movement