The Artist’s Garden – Design Brief
The inspiration behind the ‘Artist’s Garden’ concept, has come
from an attempt to create a visual explanation of the various influences that
have helped me develop my particular approach to design. I have always felt strongly
that we as New Zealanders are a unique blend and have tried to reflect this through
the work that I do.
Polynesian and Maori art and motifs have been very inspirational for me and this
is reflected in the design of the planting motif, which is central to this garden.
It is also carried through in the wall motifs, which for me are very reminiscent
of pacific tattooing. The symbols used have been chosen to specifically pick
out various forms in the design, such as the nikau fronds and stone stacks of
the light panel, at the rear of the garden and also the circles, found in the
top sections of the bromeliad totems (at the forefront of the exhibit) and in
the corners of the light panels. This circle motif again has Polynesian roots,
being the traditional symbol of the coconut in Polynesian tapa design.
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The three elements of form, texture and colour are also very integral in
my work and I employ these elements through the use of different plant
shapes, leaf textures
and in this case the mass planting of Calla ‘Goldilocks’ at the front
of the design. I rely heavily on the use of native plants as the backbone of
my designs but I do not use these plants as a purist would, but rather integrate
them with other subtropical and exotics to create my version of the Kiwi palette,
since this reflects who we are as a nation – a mixture of different
influences blending together to become one.
The selection of plants I have used reflect this philosophy, incorporating
the iconic, such as the Nikau, Cabbage tree and Platts Black flax with the
interesting
textures of divaricating Coprosma brunnea and the marbled leaf of the prostrate
Carpodetus serratus. The colour element is strong through the use of stoloniferous
neoregelia bromeliads used on mass within the design and also on the totems
at the front of the garden and textural, with the use of a Brazilian Orthophytum
variety at the rear of the garden.
I have tried to portray my journey in a symbolic way through the use of a
pathway. I have intended this more as a visual tool then as one to traverse,
in order
to lead the eye through the design culminating at the light panel feature.
This sculptural panel not only symbolises ‘a light at the end of the tunnel’,
but also allows me to create art for the garden space, an element that is
very important to the way that I work.
The water feature, which is crossed over by the path, is also symbolic in nature,
signifying working through periods of self-doubt and uncertainty along this
journey of development.
The medium used for the ‘pavers’ within the path and as the plinth
for the sculptural piece, by artist Jeff Lockart, is checker plate steel, in
its raw state, which I have utilised to give an industrial feel. The straight
hard lines of the pavers contrast well with the organic flowing lines of the
planting motif. The textured pattern embossed on the steel is for me also reminiscent
of a basket weave, linking back to the Polynesian influence. This combination
of steel, stone and unique flora are intrinsic to this design. Together they
portray something very ‘kiwi’. The other sculptural element used
in this design is the bromeliad totems guarding my pathway, ancient in their
meaning but contemporary in their medium and use of plant type.
All these factors have culminated in ‘The Artists Garden’ – the
journey continues.
Alex Schanzer.