Gardens: Natural Art
Alan Verdu
Preface:
Hi, my name is Alan Verdu, and this portfolio is called Gardens: Natural Art. The licensing I will be using is CC BY 4.0.
Introduction:
My main focus is the existence and power of gardening as an art form, and specifically the way it helps bring us closer to nature. Gardening is an art that has existed for thousands of years, being present in every major civilization. Even in ancient times, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were considered one of the Seven Wonders of the world. Gardening as an art form can help foment a closer relationship to nature, as well as benefit the community as a whole. In order to highlight this better, I have focused on three distinct forms of gardening in this portfolio. These are traditional Japanese gardens, botanical gardens, and community gardens.
Themes: Gardening as Art
Gardening as an art, enables a closer understanding and connection to nature, allowing us a return to our roots in a way. Society often can feel very stifling, and gardens can help provide a place where it is possible to take a break from it all. Gardening as an art form also serves as a way to improve the community. Gardens help break up the monotony of a city or town by adding a splash of color, and a location where it is possible to admire nature and relax. They also provide more than just aesthetic and mental benefits, as edible plants can be grown, helping alleviate the needs of the community.
Analysis:
Each of the three images I selected showcases a different forms of gardening.
“Japanese garden.” by practicalowl is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
This first image is of a traditional Japanese garden. This style of garden originated over a thousand years ago. In Japanese culture, creating a garden is considered one of the highest possible forms of art, next to calligraphy and ink-painting, and it is seen as a three-dimensional expression of philosophy. Unique thought is put into the creation of Japanese gardens in order to present an image of an ancient landscape, disconnected from the current reality. They manage to achieve this aesthetic through the use of worn materials and plants that help highlight the natural landscape, along with the avoidance of modern materials and objects.
Within these gardens there is a sense of timelessness and a feel for the power of nature. The peaceful environment of a Japanese garden, alongside its serene beauty, foments relaxation and a feeling of connection to the surrounding nature, making it an ideal location for quiet contemplation or meditation. There are many of them that are popular tourist locations, and for good reason: there are few places that can bring you closer to nature while being relatively close to an urban setting.
“Botanic Gardens Glasgow” by dvdbramhall is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
This second image demonstrates an example of a botanical garden. These are gardens that are dedicated to the display of a wide variety of plants, usually for conservati