Photo by Finnbarr Webster
Image of work in progress
Image of work in progress
Image of work in progress
Image of work in progress
Image of work in progress
Image of work in progress
Image of work in progress
Image of work in progress
Nicola Godden
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"This is Icarus at the peak of his joy and ecstasy, his trance like state before his world collapses. It is a moment of sheer pleasure and utter thrill and wonder. I have made the figure full of movement and youthful vigour; he is putting all his strength and energy into his push to reach the great height he desires.
Icarus is large enough to walk underneath. He has been placed at Sculpture By The Lakes with his face to the sun; his back has the morning light and his front the afternoon and evening light.
Finished this year, 2024, Icarus Rising took 18 months to produce and is the largest sculpture I have made to date".
Nicola Godden had a dream to create something truly monumental. That dream became a reality with Icarus Rising, her largest and most ambitious bronze sculpture to date. Standing over five metres tall and four metres wide, weighing more than 3 tonnes, this colossal work of art can be seen at Sculpture by the Lakes in Dorset. Icarus Rising is not just an impressive sculpture; it’s a story of creativity, persistence, and the timeless myth of Icarus brought to life.
The Dream Takes Flight: How Icarus Inspired a Monumental Vision
Nicola found inspiration in the myth of Icarus—a story about ambition, risk, and the consequences of reaching for the impossible. In Greek mythology, Icarus flies too close to the sun with wings made of feathers and wax, and while his ambition is admirable, it ultimately leads to his downfall. But Nicola didn’t want to focus on the failure. Instead, she was drawn to the daring, the moment of reaching for greatness.
That sense of boldness was exactly what she wanted to capture in her sculpture. The only question was: How big should it be? Nicola knew she was about to embark on something monumental, but the full scale of Icarus Rising would soon surprise even her.
A Vision in Motion: Bringing Icarus Rising to Life
To create something so large, Nicola needed a bigger workspace than her home studio. Fortunately, Sculpture Castings in Basingstoke offered her the space she needed. This was where Icarus Rising began to take shape. Once Nicola started, it quickly became clear that this wasn’t just another project. As Icarus grew in size, the challenges multiplied. Nicola needed scaffolding to work on the upper sections of the sculpture, and she enlisted the help of structural engineers to ensure the piece would be strong and stable.
With Icarus Rising growing to an impressive five metres tall, the sculpture couldn’t be cast as one whole piece. Instead, the foundry had to break it down into 100 separate parts. Each part was individually cast in bronze and then carefully reassembled like a giant jigsaw puzzle.
The complexity of this process was incredible. Every piece had to fit perfectly, and each section needed to line up precisely when reassembled. It took skill, patience, and precision to make sure the finished sculpture looked exactly as Nicola envisioned.
Finally, after months of hard work, Icarus Rising was complete—a towering, awe-inspiring figure of bronze.
Standing Tall: Experiencing Icarus Rising in PersonOne of the most exciting aspects of Icarus Rising is its sheer size. Visitors to Sculpture by the Lakes can walk beneath the sculpture, looking up at Icarus' wings as if they’re about to take flight. Standing beneath it, you feel a powerful sense of ambition and daring.
Nicola’s decision to capture Icarus in mid-flight, just before his fall, is intentional. She wanted to celebrate the boldness and bravery of ambition rather than focusing on failure.
Whether you’re an art lover or simply someone who enjoys exploring nature, Sculpture by the Lakes provides the ideal backdrop to experience this monumental creation up close. Surrounded by nature, the sculpture feels like it’s part of the landscape—almost as though Icarus could take flight at any moment. The tranquil atmosphere allows visitors to fully appreciate the details of Nicola’s work and the story it tells.
Icarus Rising isn’t just a sculpture; it’s a lasting symbol of ambition, creativity, and the courage to pursue your dreams. Nicola Godden’s bronze sculpture is a reminder that great things come from taking risks and pushing beyond what seems possible.
If you have the chance to see Icarus Rising in person, you’ll be struck not only by its size but by the powerful emotions it stirs up. It’s more than a work of art—it’s a statement about the human spirit, the drive to achieve, and the beauty of reaching for the sky.