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Jim Ede’s careful art curation demonstrates the importance of balance in crafting artistic perspective.
Over refreshers week, I was taken to visit Kettle's Yard in Cambridge. It used to be the residence of Jim and Helen Ede but has since been converted into an open house gallery and museum, showcasing Jim Ede’s early 20th century art collection. Understanding his artistic thought process and admiring his carefully curated displays led me to understand how seeking balance can subtly yet significantly enhance artistic composition and one's perspective and appreciation for the aesthetics.
The home is a small cottage, but in its smallness, Ede is mindful not to overwhelm the senses and he does this through the art of minimal balance. He ties each room together through intentional placements of objects and artworks that bring the eye to all the corners of each room.
When we first entered the house, we were greeted with a foyer of red tile flooring and a charming winding staircase, as well as a lovely lady who guided us into the first room and prompted questions to stimulate curiosity in its visitors. However, I don’t think she was very impressed when I thought the original purpose of the potpourri bowl was a toilet. I somehow managed to mistake a jelly mould for a chamber pot?? I digress, back to Ede’s use of balance.
A favourite detail of mine was this painting called Tic Tic by Joan Miró. The piece depicts random lines, shapes and squiggles, however once you cover one element, it throws off the composition completely! Ede would demonstrate this exact act to the undergraduate students who would visit him to show how the piece acted as a metaphor for the house but also to emphasise the importance of balance. He also took the liberty of taking certain elements of an art piece and depicting them through objects that share similar resemblances. I really enjoyed his use of a lemon to connect to the yellow oval in Miro’s painting. It not only creates balance to the corners of the room but the pop of colour is able to catch our attention and guide us to the next wall, encouraging us to look at the paintings above it.
There are many small details like this dotted throughout the house. Whether that be along the window sills, coffee tables, or mantle places, each object acts as a highlight to something else as well as carrying its own significance. The picture below shows a decorated coffee table, a recurring motif that helps to accentuate the natural features of the house as well as offering visual harmony. Jim compliments the structural integrity of the space such as the curvature of the windows and the sunlight that shines through the blinds with a Moroccan table. The sun spotlights the rounded coffee table and highlights the displayed items such as the Spiral of Stones. The patterns it creates with its shadows changes throughout the day, reaching the idea that the house also changes along with the sun. This play on light is heavily seen in the house through glass ornaments that act as mediums of reflection. Altogether, the varying shapes of the shells, stones, sculpture and the accent colours from the flowers and green orb create a dynamic yet balanced composition.
Everything in the house held value and was positioned meticulously for the greater purpose of finding balance. Though I appreciated the overall aesthetic, and it was all pleasant to look at, I did wonder if the couple saw their home as more of a living gallery rather than a place of comfort.
My concluding thoughts. The house acts as the embodiment of how creating balance can elevate composition and create thoughtful ties. Moreover, it helps the observer to see from the artist's perspective, allowing them to understand their message to a greater extent as well as craft a keener artistic eye. Ede’s home interior composition of objects, art, and accent furniture brought each room together to create a harmonious atmosphere. However, the only thing missing was the kitchen…it probably wasn't a focal part and I’m just nosey!
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