Jupiter Artland is a modern sculpture park set in the grounds of Bonnington House, a 19th-century country house near Wilkieston, West Lothian. There is a half-hourly bus service (Lothian Country X27) from Edinburgh city centre right to the gates. The most striking exhibit for me was Cells of Life by Charles Jencks, consisting of a series of sculpted landforms set around a group of ponds. Something very similar sits in front of the Modern One gallery in Edinburgh. Other personal favourites were Over Here (Shane Waltener), said to be inspired by Shetland lace; The Rose Walk (Pablo Bronstein), featuring Gothic and Chinese gateways facing off across a rose garden; and The Light Pours Out of Me (Anya Gallaccio), an underground chamber of amethyst.
The popular favourite, I believe, is Love Bomb (Marc Quinn), specially commissioned for Jupiter Artland. I thought it looked like a giant orchid seen through the eyes of a gardener on hallucinatory substances! The artist’s description is somewhat more profound.
Overall, my visit was a pleasant and interesting way to spend an afternoon, especially when bouts of heavy cloud cover were replaced by strong summer sunshine.
