Screenprint on paper
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/ian-hamilton-finlay-1093" aria-label="More by Ian Hamilton Finlay" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Ian Hamilton Finlay</a>
Topiary Aircraft Carrier collaboration with Ian Gardner
Purchased 1981
architecture
colour
emotions, concepts and ideas
formal qualities
garden structures
inscriptions
ship, warship
society
symbols and personifications
title of work
topiary
transport: water
<p>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’.</p><p><em>Gallery label, April 2005</em></p>
paper print screenprint
Topiary Aircraft Carrier [collaboration with Ian Gardner]
image: 305 × 438 mm
Purchased 1981
<p>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’.</p>

Display caption
2005-04-19T00:00:00
display-caption
DISPLAY_CAPTION
<p><b>P07462</b> TOPIARY AIRCRAFT CARRIER 1972
<br/>
<br/>Not inscribed
<br/>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)
<br/>Purchased from Coracle Press (Grant-in-Aid) 1981
<br/>
<br/>Made in collaboration with Ian Gardner. Finlay later grew a topiary version of this with box in his garden at Stonypath.
<br/>
<br/><b>Published in:</b>
<br/>The Tate Gallery 1980-82: Illustrated Catalogue of Acquisitions, London 1984
<br/></p>

Catalogue entry
2004-07-23T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY
architecture colour emotions, concepts and ideas formal qualities garden structures inscriptions ship, warship society symbols and personifications title of work topiary transport: water