Have you ever been to a Sculpture Expo? If your answer to that question is yes, then, you must have seen them indoor yeah? That's where most of the sculpture expo I've been to before are being displayed.
It's the first time I've been to one in a forest park and I think it's a very unique idea for artists to to do that. Making an art lover admire your masterpiece while wandering through the woods. It's open air and the setting gave a more dramatic effect on the art piece.
After finding out that on a hill opposite to the Botanic Garden In Wuppertal is a sculpture park, we decided to check the place out on our last day before we drive back home. After checking out from our hotel we drove directly to it and thought we could just drive till we reach the entrance but unfortunately, you'd have to climb a bit from the parking.
If you're on foot, you'd better bring water cause it's quite a hike, short but steep but don't worry, the very, very tall and thick trees with giant branches shall provide you enough shadow and a cool breeze even on a hot summer day. Just at the clearing before you get to the parking on the hill because there's another parking before it, you'd pass by three sculptures on different spots. I suggest that you park close to this sign or pant till you reach the entrance.
If you happen to have skipped breakfast or have arrived there during lunch, worry not, there's a cafe up there.
Finding out that the whole forest isn't really going to be a short walk, we've decided to eat lunch before we go check out the exhibit. They have a part that looks like an "orangery" and that's where we sat to eat cause it was chilly since the leaves of the thick trees were still dancing due to the continuous strong blowing of the chilly wind.
I noticed that they distributed blankets to the guests who choose the tables outside. Plus points for giving attention to their clients this way.
I guess, because it's the only place offering food up there, their tea turned out pretty pricey. They cost twice than what they normally charge us in the city.
The food is no difference and the serving is normal. I like the last part the most though cause if we'll be on a long hike, I'd better be not too full, otherwise, I'd be sluggish. We both opted for vegetarian and it's the first time I heard of three sorts of celery which were the sauce and the garnishing on my food.
As usual, I drooled at what's on my husband's plate specially that he's given a salsa for his salad and I love that! His courgette quiche is more delicious than what I had, too. I regret changing my mind about getting the same just because I got curious about what on earth that three sorts of celery would taste like.
Beyond this point you'll have to pay to see the rest of the sculpture exhibit. Once again, I find the ticket price a bit much but my husband explained - art lovers in the EU would find it normal and that most art lovers are also well - off who are willing to pay much for anything unique enough as a collector's item. I get that part and what he said made me expect to see really unique pieces in there.
On the other side of this stairs is another staircase that would lead you to a very unique villa where the most unique exhibits are being displayed. They sure are wowza's. I can't forget how much admiration I felt after seeing a flu bottle turned into an art piece. It's really amazing. I sort'a got a grip of why the ticket costs like it does.
We were given a route map that would help us find our way through the forest park. There was no need to wear shades that day cause even though the sun was showing off it's might that day, look at how close the canopy are.
The trees, they look very much alive and some - as if dancing to the breeze. Let how my photos turned out tell you how much shadow they've provided us that day. It wasn't as chilly as the other day though.
The place was filled with field daisies and every now and then cabbage butterflies flew by and would stop on the grass where the yellow - curled ear sculpture across from the three towers of faces is.
Curious much, I watched one really hard and followed it around and found out that they were laying eggs on this leaf. Can you see that pale yellowish oblong shaped object I've encircled? That's one of their freshly laid eggs. I wonder what this grass is called, is it the miner's lettuce?
I was hoping to be able to take a pic of them sticking their but on the leaf to put the egg on it but it all happened so quickly and before I could get my camera to focus, the butterfly has already flown away to the next of those leaves. They seem to only put one on each of that plant.
Close to where the cabbage butterflies were - is the first masterpiece that really made me say; "Woooooooow!!! Amazing!". The "Mariana" is a head and a neck of a woman all in white with gray flowing tear like lines that create some optical illusion that distorts what you see. The more I approach it, the more the sculpture looks like she's losing weight. Standing closer to it made it look taller than it seemed while I was walking towards it.
I regret not wearing sneakers that day because not only that the trails are filled with tiny stones, they sometimes lead you to a hill and a low dike heap of what seem to be pile of compost from leaves that fell from all those trees. Luckily, there were plenty of benches to sit on to catch your breath and a couple of oldies would join me every now and then. My husband would every now and then offer to carry me on his back cause the time won't stop for us but I was wearing a dress so I had to refuse.
We went around the whole route and another artwork made my jaw drop. It looked like a house which was overturned by a spaceship. My husband and I found ourselves drawing conclusions on so many of them. We did - too much interpreting what the message of each art piece is.
The one that looks like a sophisticated woman wearing a hat could also made you think of a woman's "hoo - ha" looking at it on a different angle. Another masterpiece looked like a mirror reflecting the greens around us and once you approach it, your reflection looks taller than you do because of the way it's dented.
Near the end of our trail, we found another masterpiece that left us quite an impression. The color and the material that was used to make it creates a charming effect, they speak. It's called Here Today, Gone Tomorrow cause aren't we all?
On the way back to the gate, my husband and I saw one of the displays looking like a lump of a massive rock and I asked my husband then; " Honey, what does that seem to you? A cocoon? A cow?" of course, I was being shallow because I wanted to follow through with; " If that's called art and to see it, we'll have to pay an entrance fee, I can come up with something like that, too so can I also charge that much?"
The naughty me was very much on that day, I suppose. It's the third time I saw what seem to be just a huge lump of rock with a bit of forms in there so I couldn't help but kid.
However, I was not alone because suddenly my husband piled up pieces of rocks he picked up on the ground and said back; " You think you're the only one who could pull off such stunt? Me, too! Watch .. (went on arranging them) and now .. interpret!"
I guess, we've seen much of that while walking around so I put a few rocks together, too and told him; "This is a mom with a twin on her hands, one is fat and the other is skinny. It depicts the uneven love a mother gives her children, although she loves them all, she doesn't love them equally, so she breast fed the other one more and it got fat, can you see that? " My husband widened his eyes and raised one of his brows first before he burst laughing.
Close to the entrance we found out that we were not the only ones who picked up to that idea. I see a smiling sunbathing frog on this one with it's hind legs all spread out on the ground. Do you see that, too or you see something else?
There were many more close to it so I guess, we were neither the only ones who questioned what the giant rocks there were about.
ROTFL loudly, we headed back home and found out it was already late and our plan of eating in our favorite chicken house might get jeopardized since we forgot to make a reservation that day and that place is always a full house. Luckily, we could take out and just ate at home since indeed, no table was available when we got there.
On the way back home, my anacondas were on a rage because the smell of chicken piri-piri and fresh fries lingered in the car like torture to both of us, who would have thought going on a sculpture exhibit would cost that much time?
On the other hand, the masterpieces are really exquisite. Anyhow, it was all worth it! What? Are you still waiting for me to post pics of the masterpieces? As I wrote it above, beyond the staircase is a private sculpture exhibit.
I wonder whether the forest is just open for public after the expo though cause afaik, those out of this world masterpieces were only there till September. I'm actually glad I paid the place a visit cause I almost chose the zoo instead of going there. Btw, this post is neither paid nor sponsored and every detail is based on my own experience on my visit.
