
In Tate Britain
Prints and Drawings Room
View by appointment- Artist
- Ian Hamilton Finlay 1925–2006
- Medium
- Screenprint on paper
- Dimensions
- Image: 305 × 438 mm
- Collection
- Tate
- Acquisition
- Purchased 1981
- Reference
- P07462
Display caption
The relationship between warfare and the apparently idyllic retreat of the garden is explored in this print, which shows a hedge elegantly cut to resemble a warship. Finlay went on to grow an actual topiary aircraft carrier in his garden at Stonypath, Scotland. The garden, which also includes numerous sculptures and poems inscribed on stone is regarded as Finlay’s most significant work. Many of the sculptures relate to the technology of war. As Finlay has said, ‘Certain gardens are described as retreats when they are really attacks’.
Gallery label, April 2005
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Catalogue entry
P07462 TOPIARY AIRCRAFT CARRIER 1972
Not inscribed
Screenprint printed at Girdwood and published by the Wild Hawthorn Press in an edition of about 400, 12×17 1/4 (30.5× 43.8)
Purchased from Coracle Press (Grant-in-Aid) 1981
Made in collaboration with Ian Gardner. Finlay later grew a topiary version of this with box in his garden at Stonypath.
Published in:
The Tate Gallery 1980-82: Illustrated Catalogue of Acquisitions, London 1984
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