Ian Hamilton Finlay

In the summer of 2025 Marabouparken konsthall presents the Scottish poet, artist and gardener Ian Hamilton Finlay (1925–2006). In the exhibition one of Scotland’s most remarkable artists is for the first time introduced to a Swedish audience. 

The gallery presents graphic works and poetry from Finlay’s abundant production, as well as a presentation of the artist’s best-known work – the poetry and sculpture garden Little Sparta. The presentation of the garden spreads out into the gallery surroundings, thus initiating a dialogue between Little Sparta and the Marabouparken sculpture park.

During the exhibition period Marabouparken konsthall will also hold a series of events on Finlay and his work. 

Ian Hamilton Finlay was a pioneer of concrete poetry and his interest in the ambiguity and materiality of words would define his entire artistic production. Finlay worked in a broad artistic spectrum ranging from poetry and prints to sculpture and gardening. Many of the works emanates from classical literature and mythology, neoclassicist aesthetics and the pastoral – motives that Finlay interpreted and revived in radical, humoristic and often provocative ways. The poetry and sculpture garden Little Sparta, where Finlay also lived and worked, includes a variety of works on these themes. Thru the interaction of art, garden and the surrounding landscape Little Sparta can be conceived as a contemporary British landscape garden – but an offensive one. In Finlay’s words: “Certain gardens are described as retreats when they are really attacks”.

Finlay produced poetry, pamphlets and printed matter in extensive quantity through his publishing house Wild Hawthorn Press. From this production a selection of key works will be on display. 

Among them Finlay’s monostich poems depicted as colourful large-scale prints, cards with nature lyrical concrete poetry and works reviving the radical Jacobin ideas of the French revolution.