The sculpture ‘Horizons’ has stood on the hills of New Zealand for over 30 years. Created by Neil Dawson, it looks like a giant drawing depicting a sheet of metal that has just been swept away by the wind. Completed in 1994, the work is striking for its scale, but even more so for its illusion of lightness and its optical effects.
“Horizons” – a giant sheet of metal above the hills
The sculpture is located on the grounds of Gibbs Farm. This is a vast art park situated about 47 km north of Auckland. The work is approximately 15 m high, 10 m wide and a staggering 36 m long. It is made of welded and painted steel, yet its weight is almost imperceptible to the viewer. A characteristic feature of “Horizons” are the rhythmic folds reminiscent of the corrugated metal sheets used on New Zealand farms. The artist deliberately chose an ordinary element of the local landscape and magnified it to absurd proportions.
Neil Dawson and the art of optics
Born in 1948 in Christchurch, Neil Dawson has been fascinated by perception and the illusion of space since the start of his career. He studied at the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts, later developing his craft in Melbourne. His body of work includes pieces scattered across the globe, such as “Globe” at the Centre Pompidou, “Ferns” in Wellington and “Chalice” in Christchurch. Dawson’s work often balances between drawing and sculpture. The artist uses thin steel lines, openwork forms and optical tricks, thanks to which heavy materials appear almost weightless. In the case of “Horizons”, this effect achieves particular power.
The landscape as a co-creator of the artwork
Location was of immense importance to Dawson. Gibbs Farm is renowned for its open spaces, strong winds and green hills reminiscent of ocean waves. The sculpture has been positioned on a high hill and is one of the few works visible even from the public road. It is precisely this inseparable relationship with its surroundings that makes ‘Horizons’ so evocative. In strong winds, the object looks as though it is about to fly away. Dawson has captured in steel a brief moment of movement, the split second in which a light object is lifted by a gust.
“Horizons” is an icon of New Zealand art
Since its completion in 1994, “Horizons” has become the main symbol of Gibbs Farm and one of the most photographed works of contemporary art in New Zealand. It attracts viewers primarily through the simplicity of the concept combined with its immense scale and perfectly executed illusion. After all, it is not often that one sees a drawing in the sky.
Source: gibbsfarm.org.nz, elephant.art
See also: New Zealand|Sculpture|Squares, Parks |Interesting facts|Art|whiteMAD on Instagram
