In the eyes of Sir Tony Cragg , one of the world’s leading sculptors, they are a “terrible” modern scourge that “mess up” the enjoyment of art. “I think they look sad,” he said. “It is a new world image that I really dislike and distrust intensely.”
Cragg is opening a major exhibition at Castle Howard, one of Britain’s most spectacular stately homes made even more famous by being a location for the TV adaptation of Brideshead Revisited and the series Bridgerton.
There are 28 sculptures across the house and gardens – most being seen in the UK for the fi rst time – and very defi nitely no audio guides for the exhibition.
“We’re happy,” said Castle Howard’s head curator, Christopher Ridgway . “We don’t want to be overly prescriptive.”
In Cragg’s eyes audio guides spoil the experience of looking at art. “The way I have met art and become engaged with it is just standing in front of an artwork and having my own experience. That is what is so fantastic about looking at stuff .
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Musk promises to award $1m a day in push to boost voter registrations
Elon Musk had said his Trump-supporting fundraiser will give out $1m (£766m) every day until election day to someone who signs his petition that in effect encourages Republicans in the key battleground states to register to vote.
Arts in Scotland face 'managed decline' with funding shortfalls
Arts leaders in Scotland have warned that the sector is facing \"death by slow cuts\" because of a lack of clarity over funding, with delays and funding shortfalls meaning some large institutions face temporary closure within months.
"'Remarkable' pianist, 17, wins BBC's young musician contest
The 2024 BBC Young Musician competition has been won by a 17-year-old pianist, Ryan Wang.
Stop-motion animation wins top prize at London film festival
A whimsical Australian stop-motion film about separated twins has taken the top prize at the London film festival, with the jury calling it a \"singular achievement in film-making\".
Fans gather the around world to pay tribute after Payne's death
People gathered outside St Peter's church in Wolverhampton yesterday to look at the balloons, bouquets and candles left in tribute to the One Direction star Liam Payne, whose home town was part of a worldwide outpouring of grief arranged by fans over the weekend.
Dreading the clocks going back? Britons urged to join research
Does the prospect of darker evenings make you feel gloomy, or will you relish the extra hour in bed for one morning? Scientists are launching a study to better understand how the annual switch back to winter time affects people's wellbeing and time perception - and they need your help.
Endangered Madagascan lemur bred in the Cotswolds
Cotswold wildlife park has successfully bred one of Madagascar's most endangered lemurs.
Theatre review A wander in wonder with an old storyteller
What a treat, years after reading the book, to finally go for a walk with Daniel Gluck. This is a man who talks of words as things that grow and of the world as something to be read, who throws a watch into a canal to demonstrate how time flies. Gary Lilburn's twinkling performance as the cheeky old storyteller is the beating heart of Harry McDonald's new stage adaptation of Ali Smith's novel Autumn.
UK aims to lead efforts on biodiversity crisis with first nature envoy
The government has appointed the UK's first envoy for nature, a former environment campaigner described as \"the environmentalist's environmentalist\", who will be charged with forging global agreement on halting the precipitous decline of species.
Lewis warns of online scam 'wild west' over fake budget advert
Martin Lewis has warned of a \"wild west\" of online scams after criminals used a fake interview with Rachel Reeves to trick consumers into sharing their bank details before the budget.