Darling Daisy – Anne Schwegmann-Fielding
Inspired by the way The Countess of Warwick abandoned her luxurious lifestyle to embrace socialism and the support of good causes, this radical transformation was the starting point for the creation of Darling Daisy.
The artist strove to create an essence of Daisy, recreating her using objects previously buried within the gardens she loved so dearly.
Broken, rusting and worn bits of history have been polished, shaped and gilded to create a jewelled bodice. From a distance, a Gaultier model, yet on closer inspection, a museum of bullet cases, crockery, coins, shells and other oddments from the Gardens’ past.
Symbols of her life cover her frame, and carefully concealed within the flower at the centre of her chest is the profile of Edward VII, her “secret” love.
Her transparent skin, made from fragments of old greenhouse glass, reveals decaying daisies picked from fresh from the gardens. She is dead but not forgotten.
Anne Schwegmann-Fielding created the work during the Gardens first Artist in Residence project in 2004. Anne is well-known for her work within public settings. She specialises in using recycled materials to create sculptures and panels.
Commissioned by the Gardens of Easton Lodge Preservation Trust.
Funded by Essex County Council, Arts Council England, Friends of the Gardens of Easton Lodge.