Turning the World Upside Down
An exhibition organised by The Royal Parks and the Serpentine Gallery
This autumn The Royal Parks and the Serpentine Gallery will present a major
exhibition of large scale outdoor sculptures by acclaimed London-based artist Anish
Kapoor in Kensington Gardens.
The free exhibition will showcase a series of major recent works never before shown
together in London. Constructed from highly reflective stainless steel, the giant
curved mirror surfaces will create illusory distortions of the surroundings and will be
visible across large distances, creating new vistas in this famous and much-
loved setting.
The sculptures will be sited to contrast and reflect the changing colours, foliage and
weather in Kensington Gardens. Despite their monumental scale, the works appear
as pure reflection of their surroundings: the sky, trees, water, wildlife and changing
seasons. The distortions in the works’ mirror-like surfaces call into question the
viewers’ relationship to both the work itself and the surrounding environment.
Mark Camley, Chief Executive of The Royal Parks said: “The arts have always been
an important part of The Royal Parks and we are delighted to be working with such an
acclaimed artist as Anish Kapoor and with the respected Serpentine Gallery on this
ambitious exhibition. We hope to build on the achievements of this project in the
future and develop a regular programme of prestige exhibitions in our wonderful
spaces.”
Julia Peyton-Jones, Director and Hans Ulrich Obrist, Co Director, Serpentine Gallery,
said: “This exhibition has been realized in a groundbreaking partnership between The
Royal Parks and the Serpentine Gallery and forms part of the Serpentine Gallery’s
40th Anniversary Programme. The Gallery is delighted to be part of this ambitious
partnership and looks forward to further projects in the future.”
Kapoor was born in Bombay in 1954 and has lived in London since the early 1970s
when he studied at Hornsey College of Art and Chelsea School of Art and Design.
Over the past twenty years he has exhibited extensively in London and worldwide.
His solo shows have included Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2009; Institute of
Contemporary Art, Boston, 2008; Haus der Kunst, Munich, 2007; Kunsthaus
Bregenz, 2003; Hayward Gallery, London, 1998 and Tate Gallery, London, 1990.
The exhibition is organised by The Royal Parks and the Serpentine Gallery and is
generously supported by Lisson Gallery, Gladstone Gallery and anonymous donors.
It is part of the Serpentine Gallery’s 40th anniversary exhibition programme and
initiates a new arts strategy by The Royal Parks.
Image: Sky Mirror, Red, 2007. Installation view Kensington Gardens, London © 2010 Dave Morgan
Press contacts for the Serpentine Gallery:
Tom Coupe, 020 7298 1544, tomc@serpentinegallery.org
or Rose Dempsey, 020 7298 1520, rosed@serpentinegallery.org
Press contact for The Royal Parks:
Katy Murray 020 7298 2128, kmurray@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk
or Lucy Skipper, 020 7298 2145, lskipper@royalparksgsi.gov.uk
Serpentine Gallery
Kensington Gardens, London W2 3XA
Nearest Tube: South Kensington or Lancaster Gate
Open daily 6am – dusk.
Admission free
Nearest Tube: South Kensington or Lancaster Gate