The Coloured Garden – Design Brief
The myriad of colours, forms and textures of our unique native flora have
always been a constant source of fascination and inspiration to me. Therefore,
it is to this area that I have turned for my interpretation of the `coloured
garden' theme.
This design has a number of facets to it, all of which have been inspired, in
one way or another, by my experiences in the natural landscape.
As one walks through the bush, the beauty of the foliage forms and colours are
heightened by the play of light through various layers of the canopy. With this
in mind the hand painted backdrop panels to this design, were created. These
have been painted in such a way as to enliven the design by imparting a wash
of colour and subtle texture and form.
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The band of river stones that runs through the centre of this design has
been inspired by the beauty of the dry riverbeds often encountered in the
landscape with the wonderful colours and textures held within. Their form,
which contrasts so well with the sharpness of the surrounding foliage of
the cordylines, libertia and bromeliads, is also mirrored by the growth habit
of the scleranthus used in the forefront of the design.
At the core of this design is the unique symbol of the Koru, which at once
is recognised as an intrinsic part of Kiwi identity. For me the beauty of
this form is epitomised in the unfurling of a juvenile tree fern frond -
the creation of new life.
Within this form, stand a number of stacked stone sculptures that follow
the grace and movement of the Koru. These symbolise the journey of growth
from young seedling through to majestic maturity so often seen in the canopy
layers of the bush.
Crushed shell has been utilised within the Koru form, since, for me, it completes
the journey - from bush to river to coast.
Underlying the entire concept has been my desire to approach this design
as a palette of colour. By utilising the various species in bands and drifts,
the result has been two fold - to communicate the aims of the concept and
to fulfil the theme of the `coloured garden'.
Alex Schanzer.
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