• A Field of Dreams
    26/06/2009

    Antony Gormley's spectacular 'Field for the British Isles' has arrived in Torquay and will be on show in Torre Abbey's atmospheric Spanish Barn from June 27th to August 23rd.

    The work features 40,000 hand-sized clay figures.  Gormley has described the work as "a field of gazes which looks at the observer making him or her the subject".  'Field for the British Isles' can be seen free of charge throughout the summer at Torre Abbey.

    Paying homage to the world-renowned installation, the English Riviera is expanding its own depth of Field - by staging a number of related events at other attractions and venues across the Bay. 

    Babbacome Model Village is running a project inspired by 'Field for the British Isles': visitors will be encouraged to make a 'Tiny Terra' which will then be placed in a separate 'Field of Tiny Terras' at the Model Village.  If visitors make a Tiny Terra before arriving at the Model Village (clay, plasticine or even blu-tac may be used) and present it when purchasing entry tickets, they will receive free admission to the 4D Theatre.

    Elsewhere, from July 3rd Living Coasts - where it's possible to "walk with the penguins" - will be creating a colony of around 800 plaster of paris penguins, dipped in terracotta paint.

    One July 25th, 'Tiny Terras on the Beach' will see the creation of sandcastle versions of 'Field for the British Isles' on Torre Abbey Sands beach.  At the end of the day the tide will come in and take them away.

    Torre Abbey has also created a special Ultimate Day Out voucher, featuring all of the attractions on the adjacent Meadows.  Vouchers - offering major savings for entry into Torre Abbey, the HiFlyer Balloon, crazy golf and pitch and putt - will be available to anyone who visits ' Field for the British Isles'.

    'Field for the British Isles' is arguably one of the biggest art events to have been staged on The English Riviera.  Antony Gormley is internationally renowned for his distinctive representation of the human form such as the 'Angel of the North' in Gateshead and 'Another Place' on Crosby Beach.  This summer Antony Gormley has been commissioned to create an artwork, called 'One and Other' on Trafalgar Square's empty fourth plinth, and has selected people from all walks of life to stand on it for an hour at a time.

    'Field for the British Isles' is on show daily from 10am to 5pm. 

News