I have already raved about the Chihuly exhibition at Kew Gardens, and more than once. But on a return visit last week, I saw a piece that I had somehow missed on previous visits.
These glorious white glass lilies are floating in the Waterlily House, a Kew glasshouse that is splendid in its own right. It was completed in 1852, designed specifically to showcase the giant Amazon waterlily, and now a listed building.
Chihuly visited Kew a couple of years ago to work on the design of the current exhibition and was inspired by this location to develop this new piece. The shape and size of these white lilies fit perfectly with the natural wonders in this giant pond.
And I can assure you they look much better in reality than on screen or paper.
The exhibition is on until 27 October 2019, free with your entrance ticket for the gardens. For an extra treat, there is also an illuminated show of the pieces every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening until 26 October – booking in advance is highly recommended (£18 adult entry).
Copyright Debbie Smyth, 16 September 2019
Posted as part of Lens-Artists
Travel with Intent 
They are so wonderful Debbie 🙂
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These are truly magical. Never seen anything like it before. Thanks for sharing.
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Chihuly’s work is magical, Debbie. I saw his collection in Seattle and his works in the MFA in Boston. I’d love to see this exhibit in Kew Gardens. You’ve really captured the magic of his work.
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Really exquisite, Debbie. 😍
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We are arriving in London Oct. 23 and I have told my husband that we must get out to see these at Kew before is closes. We saw a documentary on his work and how these amazing glass sculptures are created. I can’t wait to see these in person. Thanks for sharing these photos.
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What good timing! It might be extra busy that week, so I suggest getting there fairly early in the morning if you can. There are 2 free tours a day and really worth doing as she gives some background on Chihuly and the setting up of the exhibition. You get a tour of the main pieces and can then return to your favourites in your own time.
Enjoy your visit to London and just ask if you want any tips on things to do.
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Wow, Debs! How fabulous are these? 🙂 🙂
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WOW. Those are magical. 😀 😀
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Brilliant – and thanks for showing these magnificent glass sculptures.
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How incredible are they?
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Too incredible to really capture in a photo!
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😄😄
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Beautiful presentation of these beautiful flowers
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Amazing! A pity I don’t plan to go this autumn! And they are illuminated? What a treat! Magical, Debbie, truly magical.
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Thanks Leya. Yes a shame not get over for this. I’ll be there in a couple of weeks to see the illuminated show and will report back 🙂
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Oh, thank you! Will be on the lookout for it!
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Very cool work!
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Glad you enjoyed it.
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Wowww. Beautiful beautiful. I’ve seen many Chihuly exhibitions, but not that. Superb. We have a great lily pad pond (The Monet Pond) at the Denver Botanic Gardens, with lots of baby ducks in the summer. Lily pads always remind me of the Burl Ives song:
There’s a little green frog swimming in the water
A little green frog, doing what he oughter
He jumped right off of the lily pad
That the little duck bit and he said, “I’m glad
I’m a little green frog swimming in the water
Glump glug, glump glug, glump glug glug”
I lived and worked in England for 4 years, jogged Hyde Park countless times, and saw the Queen’s Rose Garden, but I don’t think I ever made it to Kew. Shame on me. Yet another reason to revisit ‘Londinium’, one of the great cities of western civilization.
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Many reasons to visit, so give a shout if you do. I live just outside London but have a pretty easy journey to Kew and try to get there 2 or 3 times a year. More often this year, due to Chihuly. I first discovered him in Florida and have seen a few of his pieces on my travels, but never a huge exhibition like this.
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Will do.
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Love Chihuly! and love these images.
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Beautiful choice Debbie. I saw the exhibit in Seattle and it had many orange water lilies but these white ones are extraordinary!
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I was stunned. Last time I was in this lily house it was decorated with pumpkins! So quite a contrast.
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