WAKEFIELD.- Seated Figure (2016), a three-metre-tall painted bronze sculpture, by artist Sean Henry went on display in its new home at Yorkshire Sculpture Park from today. The sculpture, of an anonymous man sat on a traditional three-legged travelling stool, has been relocated to YSP from Castleton Rigg in the North York Moors National Park.

Seated Figure is positioned high up in a quiet area of the Park overlooking a valley, in line with the artist’s wish for visitors to “go and find him”. It joins more than 80 sculptures and installations in over 500 acres of country park – from those by some of Britain’s most well-known artists, such as Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth and Damien Hirst, all of whom grew up in Yorkshire, to works by world-class international artists including Ai Weiwei and Jaume Plensa.

Henry’s work often plays with scale. From a distance, Seated Figure looks life-size, and could be mistaken for a real person. As visitors approach they see that he is much larger than life. Henry’s figures, in contemporary or casual dress often appear distracted or thoughtful, inviting the viewer to reflect on and imagine the subjects’ inner thoughts and histories.

Clare Lilley, Director of Programme at YSP, said: “We’re delighted that Seated Figure has found a new home at Yorkshire Sculpture Park. The sculpture is loved by many, in fact its popularity led to moorland erosion in the North York Moors.

“At YSP, we welcome around 500,000 visitors each year. We are used to caring for sculpture within the landscape and the challenges of significant visitor numbers. We hope that many more people will be able to see the sculpture in its new location.”

Artist Sean Henry said: “I'm greatly looking forward to seeing Seated Figure installed at one of the highest points of the Park – on Oxley Bank. He is the largest in a series of seated anonymous figures and was designed for the Yorkshire landscape.

“Sitting on a fold-out stool he is alert and appears to be on the edge of action although it is deliberately unclear what he will do next. Like all sculpture, the work is a form of non-verbal communication, and I hope people come and see what he has to say.”