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Gallery in a Somerset farmyard is a slow lane in the art world rat race Gallery in a Somerset farmyard is a slow lane in the art world rat race
(35 minutes later)
At night, a giant Martin Creed neon will shine down the words "Everything Is Going to be Alright" while a 16ft stainless steel milking pail, the work of the artist Subodh Gupta, dominates what was once a muddy farmyard.At night, a giant Martin Creed neon will shine down the words "Everything Is Going to be Alright" while a 16ft stainless steel milking pail, the work of the artist Subodh Gupta, dominates what was once a muddy farmyard.
In the threshing barn big multi-coloured cloth pompoms by Phyllida Barlow hang from the ceiling while in the field at the back two large granite eyes by Louise Bourgeois carefully watch over everything. In the threshing barn big multicoloured cloth pompoms by Phyllida Barlow hang from the ceiling while in the field at the back two large granite eyes by Louise Bourgeois carefully watch over everything.
Visitors can eat their food overlooked by more than 40 works by artists including Mark Wallinger, Richard Hamilton, Mira Schendal and Katharina Fritsch. Visitors can eat their food overlooked by more than 40 works by artists including Mark Wallinger, Richard Hamilton, Mira Schendel and Katharina Fritsch.
"There is nothing quite like this in the world," said Alice Workman, the director of the latest branch of the international art gallery Hauser & Wirth, a rural outpost occupying a disused farm in Somerset."There is nothing quite like this in the world," said Alice Workman, the director of the latest branch of the international art gallery Hauser & Wirth, a rural outpost occupying a disused farm in Somerset.
The gallery, which opens to the public next Tuesday, is the brainchild of Iwan Wirth – number three in the latest art power list – who presides over a company that has galleries in London, New York and Zurich. Add to that, Bruton. The gallery, which opens next Tuesday, is the brainchild of Iwan Wirth – number three in the latest art power list[ HYPERLINK "http://artreview.com/power_100/"http://artreview.com/power_100/] – who presides over a company that has galleries in London, New York and Zurich. Add to that, Bruton.
Wirth runs one of the world's leading commercial art galleries with a stellar roster of artists but the Somerset project has been particularly on his mind. He and his family moved to the UK eight years ago, visited Somerset, fell in love with the Durslade farm and moved there a few years later. Wirth runs one of the world's leading commercial art galleries with a stellar roster of artists but the Somerset project has been particularly on his mind. He and his family moved to Britain eight years ago, visited Somerset, fell in love with Durslade farm and moved there a few years later.
"I've probably worked on it an hour a day for the last four years," he said. "A lot of people have said we are mad, particularly in the industry. It makes no sense, to waste an hour a day on a project like this when the art industry is booming. I should be focussed on another space in New York, another space in London. Or some people said, 'Why not do this in Hong Kong or another part of Asia?' It probably is a mistake but hey – I live here." "I've probably worked on it an hour a day for the last four years," he said. "A lot of people have said we are mad, particularly in the industry. It makes no sense, to waste an hour a day on a project like this when the art industry is booming.
"I should be focused on another space in New York, another space in London. Or some people said, 'Why not do this in Hong Kong or another part of Asia?' It probably is a mistake but hey – I live here."
The centre is a fusion of art, commerce, education and food and drink. The gallery hopes that rich buyers will make the trip but they also want to be open to anyone.The centre is a fusion of art, commerce, education and food and drink. The gallery hopes that rich buyers will make the trip but they also want to be open to anyone.
Wirth says the project could be a new commercial model, although he stresses that was not the idea. "This is a very personal project." His main motivation, he says, was to kick against the increasing speed of the industry – he wanted to trick himself into slowing down.Wirth says the project could be a new commercial model, although he stresses that was not the idea. "This is a very personal project." His main motivation, he says, was to kick against the increasing speed of the industry – he wanted to trick himself into slowing down.
Wirth said he pined for the early 1990s "when we had so much time for everyone, I talked with the artists about their shows and life. It is about bringing some of that innocence back and forcing myself to be small, which this is – it is an intimate setting." Wirth said he pined for the early 1990s "when we had so much time for everyone, I talked with the artists about their shows and life. It is about bringing some of that innocence back and forcing myself to be small, which this is – it is an intimate setting".
In truth, it is not that small. The Grade II listed farm buildings – which include the farmhouse, stables, cow shed, piggery, and threshing barn – are all being put to use and there is a 1.5-acre meadow that is being turned into a work of art by landscape designer Piet Oudulf. In truth, it is not that small. The Grade II listed farm buildings, including the farmhouse, stables, cow shed, piggery, and threshing barn, are all being put to use and there is a 1.5-acre meadow that is being turned into a work of art by landscape designer Piet Oudolf.
The gallery hopes to run three or four big shows a year, and the first is by Barlow, whose vast installation still fills Tate Britain's Duveen galleries. She has created work in response to the surrounding landscape, with one room jam packed with huge brightly coloured fabric pompoms. The gallery hopes to run three or four big shows a year, and the first is by Barlow, whose vast installation still fills Tate Britain's Duveen galleries. She has created work in response to the surrounding landscape, with one room packed with huge brightly coloured fabric pompoms.
"What Phyllida has done is just incredible because the first show is always the most difficult," said Wirth. "The building is not finished and all the attention could be on the building.""What Phyllida has done is just incredible because the first show is always the most difficult," said Wirth. "The building is not finished and all the attention could be on the building."
Wirth said he had wanted to create a "Valhalla" for the gallery's roster of artists and Pipilotti Rist has had a year-long residency at the farm, creating new work. Wirth said he had wanted to create a Valhalla for the gallery's roster of artists and Pipilotti Rist has had a year-long residency at the farm, creating new work.
Wirth said he cares deeply what local people – his neighbours – thought. He felt duty-bound to have a farm shop selling local produce, and an education programme is central to the overall project. Wirth said he cares deeply what local people – his neighbours – think. He felt duty-bound to have a farm shop selling local produce, and an education programme is central to the project.
There will be Family Saturdays and in August a collaboration with the Bristol Old Vic in which 25 young people will create an original piece of theatre inspired by Barlow's sculptures.There will be Family Saturdays and in August a collaboration with the Bristol Old Vic in which 25 young people will create an original piece of theatre inspired by Barlow's sculptures.
On Thursday, local teachers were being shown round and given an idea of what resources they could expect for their pupils.On Thursday, local teachers were being shown round and given an idea of what resources they could expect for their pupils.
The country air, the wellies, the remoteness, the gentle pace is a long way from the slick, superfast world of international art galleries. Are Wirth's competitors watching? "I think they are. I think they're wondering what the hell am I doing."The country air, the wellies, the remoteness, the gentle pace is a long way from the slick, superfast world of international art galleries. Are Wirth's competitors watching? "I think they are. I think they're wondering what the hell am I doing."