For the second instalment of our outdoor art photo series Field Notes, we visited Houghton Hall in England’s Norfolk – currently exhibiting work by renowned artist Anish Kapoor.

In the final days of September we took a trip to Norfolk’s Houghton Hall, a stately home and garden situated in the historic parish of Houghton, England. The site is currently host to an expansive exhibition by British-Indian artist Anish Kapoor, featuring over 24 of his sculptural works along with drawings and smaller pieces. We also wanted to take a look at the grounds’ sculpture garden which features a collection of contemporary forms created by renowned artists including Henry Moore and James Turrell.

The Palladian house was designed by leading 18th century architects Colen Campbell and James Gibbs in the classical architectural style named after its inventor Italian designer Andrea Palladio. Originally built in 1720 for Britain’s first Prime Minister Sir Robert Waple, the house is now home to his direct descendant the Marquess of Cholmondeley and his family.

Inside the house Kapoor’s works can be seen within the State Rooms, a series of large, decadent spaces designed by painter and architect William Kent. The main room features tall painted-ceilings adorned with heavenly imagery, gilded chandeliers and marble statues. These ornate details provide a contrasting backdrop for Kapoor’s futuristic circular mirrors, curved to reflect the room in an array of metallic colours.

Outside pieces by the artist include Sky Mirror, a 5-metre-wide mirrored disc, positioned to warp the reflection of the surrounding space. Blocky sculptures carved from marble and stainless steel are also found in the gardens of the house, amongst the site’s permanent collection of outdoor works and maze.

Kapoor plays immensely with spatial exploration, inviting the viewer to engage and interact with the surface and scale of his chosen materiality. His impressive sculptural forms toy with light and space in a simplistic but dazzling way that allows room for personal curiosity and investigation.

Houghton Hall’s grounds also display a number of notable sculptures by contemporary names including Rachel Whiteread’s Houghton Hut, a concrete cast shed and Earth Sky a series of land works by Richard Long made from stone, flint and slate.

Another favourite is Seldom Seen an outdoor installation by light artist James Turrell, featuring a white-walled room with a square cut in its roof, revealing the ever-rolling perspective of the sky above.