Goldfield

Commissioned by Jasia Reichardt for the Whitechapel Gallery in 1976, Goldfield gives the effect of a giant wheat field growing in early summer. The sculpture comprises over 70 individual wheat stalks each between 4 and 5 meters high, 5 butterflies and a family of field mice. The installation is set to music by Richard Hartley.

Most recently shown at Buckland Abbey the work is made of aluminium tubes and vacuum formed heads with glitter and glass mice and butterflies. Originally built in 1976 the ‘new’ butterflies and mice date from 2016-17.

Photographs by Sylvain Deleu and Steve Haywood.