Ian Hamilton Finlay - Sentences
29 July to 23 October, 2005
This exhibition of new work by Ian Hamilton Finlay was commissioned by The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to celebrate the artist's eightieth birthday in October 2006. Sentences consists of words and phrases composed by the artist whilst living at Little Sparta, the renowned garden in the Pentland Hills which he created over a forty year period which has been described as 'The most important work of art created in Scotland during the last century'.
Sentences was conceived by the artist, assisted by Pia Maria Simig and arranged into rooms reflecting themes such as gardens, the weather, and friendship. Typographic assistance was provided by Gary Hincks, and the lettering was hand-painted directly onto the Gallery walls by another long-standing collaborator, Les Edge.
Although Ian Hamilton Finlay has exhibited in many major museums and galleries worldwide, this is the first major exhibition of new work to have been held in Edinburgh, and the largest since his retrospective in 1972 exhibition at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, when it was located at Inverleith House.
It was accompanied by an exhibition of sculpture, printed works and garden proposals L'Idylle des Cerises at The Ingleby Gallery, which was on display until 17 September 2006, and an exhibition of printed works from The Wild Hawthorn Press at The Scottish Poetry Library, until 7 October, 2006.
Little Sparta
The Little Sparta Trust exists to sustain and protect the garden at Little Sparta for the future, and your support is needed. If you would like to help, please contact the trust on info@littlesparta.org or telephone 01556 640 244.
We wish to thank; Edinburgh College of Art, GF Smith Papers, Victoria Miro, The Ingleby Gallery and Edinburgh Art Festival 2005.
For further information about the exhibitions or events, please ask at
the reception desk or contact Inverleith House
