Jupiter Artland is a contemporary sculpture park and art gallery just outside of Edinburgh. Set over 100 acres of meadow, forest and gallery spaces, there are over 30 permanent engaging sculptures commissioned specifically for the site.
Jupiter Artland has recently been added to the Bloomberg Connects app which allows in-person and online visitors to explore the whimsical sculpture park trail in detail. In-depth descriptions, audio guides and videos allow visitors from all over the world to experience the contemporary site. Continue reading to discover a few highlights. More about these sculptures can be found under the 'Permanent Collections' section on the Jupiter Artlands guide.
Cells of Life
Cells of Life by Charles Jencks is an ongoing installation that marks the entrance to Jupiter Artland. This interactive installation consists of eight tall, manmade landforms built around four lakes and five acres of landscaped gardens.
The installation references the cellular processes of mitosis to show how cells multiply and divide: a representation of the 'microscopic basis of life'. Jencks spent six years transforming the space.
You can find a short video of the construction and a bird's-eye view of the site in 2005 on the Bloomberg Connects app. This demonstrates how the surrounding land was completely transformed into monumental landforms. You can also learn more about the artist, a pioneer in the art of 'landforming'.
Gateway
Gateway by Joana Vasconcelos is an outdoor artwork consisting of an operational swimming pool and landscaped garden. The round pool is the centrepiece of the work, made up of 11,366 bright, hand-painted Portuguese tiles in a flower-like abstract design.
This artwork is inspired by the ley lines that are said to pass through Jupiter Artland, believed to channel the earth's energy and connect spiritual sites around the world. Vasconcelos says that 'Gateway is a threshold to another universe that we are not conscious of, but we can flow through'.
The Connects app lets you explore the artwork further with a section that delves into the sculpture's inspiration, linking the design to the artist's astrological sign. There is also a section on the life and artistic background of Joana Vasconcelos, the record-breaking visual artist who created this piece.
Animitas
Animitas by Christian Boltanski is an outdoor installation of more than 200 small Japanese bells attached to long steel stems, scattered around an island. The bells are featured on an island in the middle of the duck pond, bringing peace and tranquillity to the space.
Each bell chimes gently in the wind – a noise Boltanski noted as 'the music of the souls'.
The app provides additional information surrounding this immersive sculpture including a video of an intimate conversation with the artist, describing his work at Jupiter Artland. The guide explores the deeper meaning behind the sculpture and what the artist intended to achieve.
A Forest
A Forest by Jim Lambie is an outdoor mirror installation of spray-painted chrome panels. The panels are peeled back to reveal multiple layers in different colours.
The front panels reflect the forest on the grounds of Jupiter Artland and intend to incorporate each season as it passes. Visitors feel they are peeling back the forest to discover the treasures beneath.
You can explore A Forest in more detail on the app as there is a short clip of Jim Lambie speaking about his artwork, what it is trying to achieve and his perceptions of the work. The guide details the influences and aesthetics that shaped this immersive, psychedelic sculpture. There is also a section on Jim Lambie and his artistic background and inspirations, highlighting his most famous artworks.
Download the Bloomberg Connects app today to explore the award-winning Jupiter Artland.
Lauren Souras, Intern at Art UK
