Spring 2019

Art 3404 Sculpture Installation

Professor: Robert Bertoia

Zen Gardens in Japan are located on spiritual grounds, however, in the United States most Zen Gardens are located in a museum or botanical garden setting. The Johnson Museum’s Morgan Garden is one such garden which was built in 2011. The garden was inspired by karesansui (dry-landscape) which details the creative layout of natural elements in order to simulate water without the use of water. Karesansui is traditionally implemented through the careful curation of raked sand and stones.

Zen gardens often illustrate a story; the Morgan Garden… “abstracts the story of the Three Laughers of the Tiger Glen, with the protagonists represented by three upright boulders. A cleft through a field of moss represents the ravine, the bottom of which is lined with small stones to evoke the torrent. The sound of running water in the nearby stone basin and the visual illusion of running water in the ravine are intended to mix within the mind of the viewer.” The natural elements in the garden such as the stones and the moss originates from Connecticut. The moss landscaping is a very delicate and sacred component of the garden and is actually composed of twelve different species in order to create a patchwork quilt effect. Every element within the garden was thoughtfully considered and placed in order to create a relaxing and balanced space.

The addition of artwork in such a space requires careful consideration and care, comparable to that of the garden. My art installation aims to be in keeping with value of the garden; all the materials are raw and white to avoid colliding with the natural setting. The Ceramic tiles within the rock river emphasize the presence of the divide in the landscape, the three standing paper forms reflects the transient meaning behind the three solid rocks in the garden, the hung paper sheets represent the Buddhist monks Huiyuan mountain temple, and the interconnected ceramic tiles are a metaphor for the importance of communication and mutual understanding. The story behind the Morgan Garden is further emphasized by the addition of the seemingly abstract sculptures.