Program

Public visit:
October 5 - 7, 2018
9am - 7pm daily
Preview :
October 4, by invitation only

Room no. 53, Cernobbio Alley

The Cosmic Garden

In an exclusive room (no. 53, Cernobbio Alley) in a pavilion at Villa Erba on Lake Como during Orticolario, the annual horticulture show, the collection of artworks on show conjure up supernatural qualities in both the science of horticulture and nature’s infinite creativity.

In the lineage of highly respected artists such as Georgia O’Keefe, Giusseppe Penone, Yayoi Kusama, Ernst Haeckel, Egon Schiele or Vincent Van Gogh, who interpret nature’s way beyond mere illustration, the creators in “The Cosmic Garden” approach “the beyond" through surreal, other-worldly and cosmic forces in their artistic vision. They provide an alternative perspective on the aesthetics, the cultivation and nurturing of forms inspired by the botanical realm.

Depicted, for example, could be an evolved, bizarrely hybridised, plant, tree, leaf, colony or cactus by Astrid Köppe, Giles Lyon, Kim L Pace, Alexander Ross or Daniel Zeller; or even a blossoming, never seen before species of flowers by Enza Galantini or Eunice Choi; the reconstructed, modified horticulture of Ruby Palmer, Michael Whittle, Nikita Alexeev, Susanna Bauer, or Marianne Katser whereby the visionary dreamscapes of Kinke Kooi or Davor Vrankić, also lend themselves to an ultimately otherworldly garden.

In all cases the artist’s “horticulture” is made through various media including watercolours, inks, pencil or gouache on paper; painting, photography, ceramic, collage, or stitching.

“After visiting Orticolario over the last few years, I was deeply inspired by the diversity of plants, trees and succulents on show,” says Jeff Gleich, (aka Indie Curator | Art Advisor) “in the context of a sublime, magical setting on Lake Como, with its vast, harmonious gardens, exhibition halls and an elegant 19th century villa. Once a former monastery, Villa Erba’s origins of botanical gardening is historically the perfect setting for the marriage of art, design and nature .” New interpretations abound, our potential as a human race strives for heightening our respect for the natural environment; henceforth horticulture. Artworks in “The Cosmic Garden” hint new interpretations on horticultural practices through the artist’s expression, exploration and creative force. Hand in hand, art and nature, inspires, nourishes and fulfills people’s lives.

Brooklyn, New York born Jeff Gleich is an independent curator and art advisor located in Paris, France and a regular to Cernobbio, Italy. He has worked in the art ‘field’ for the last 25 years researching and collaborating with contemporary artists and continuously maintains an international clientele.