10 Fantastical Living Garden Sculptures
Mother Earth
MIM chose "Mother Earth" as the illustrative ambassador of the
2013 competition, inspired by a speech given by Chief Seattle when white
settlers bought native land in 1854:
“The white man must treat the beasts of this land as his brothers. […]
We are part of the Earth and it is part of us. The perfumed
flowers are our sisters, the deer, the horse, the great eagle, these are
our brothers. The rocky crests, the juices in the meadows, the body
heat of the pony, and man, all belong to the same family. […]
This shining water that moves in streams and rivers is not just water but the blood of our ancestors. […]
What is man without the beasts? If all the beasts were gone, man
would die from a great loneliness of the spirit. For whatever happens to
the beasts, soon happens to man. […]
Preserve the memory of this Earth as [we] deliver it. And with all
your strength, your spirit and your heart, preserve it for your
children and love it as God loves us all.”
Earth as art
The Mosaïcultures Internationales Montréal exhibit, hosted at
the Montreal Botanical Garden, has invited countries from all over the
world to submit the most awe-inspiring horticultural sculptures. This
year's theme, "Land of Hope," features more than 50 sculptures from
about 20 countries and runs through Sept. 29. Plus, it's not just for
looks. It's essentially a horticultural arts Olympics (yep, there's
actually a winner!) with a thread of environmental initiatives woven
through every piece of art. Check out these 10 amazing sculptures that
are winners in our book
The Bird Tree
MIM's "The Bird Tree" stands 16 feet tall, its branches
reaching nearly 60 feet in diameter. The 100-ton sculpture took six
years to sketch and build! "The Mosaïcultures Internationales de Montréal team put all its
passion and expertise into creating 'The Bird Tree,' MIM2013’s
emblematic work and one that espouses the competition’s third subtheme:
Earth’s endangered species and ecosystems," MIM describes. "The Bird
Tree’s branches transform themselves into 56 bird species, while its
roots change into a Kakapo (also referred to as an owl parrot, the only
parrot unable to fly) and six species of amphibians and reptiles. All
these species — birds, amphibians, reptiles — are among the most
endangered on Earth, according to the IUCN Red List."
Born with the Sun
Artist Christine Sioui Wawanoloath created "Born with the Sun"
to represent the First Nations of Eastern Québec and Labrador. The piece
features figures that are common in the Aborignal legends. "Here, the father-bird pays tribute to the celestial and spiritual
universe, while the mother-bear sows the seeds of Earth’s future," the
MIM description reads. "They do this for their child, who will thereby
remember his roots and grow up in harmony with all his kin. The canoe
represents a new world, full of hopes and dreams to carry forth to the
four corners of the world."
A True Story
Shanghai's submission, "A True Story," depicts the real tale of
a girl whose lifetime love of red crown cranes led her to care for them
at the Yangcheng Nature Reserve until her tragic death, when she never
resurfaced after saving an injured crane from a swamp. "The moving story of this girl, told far and wide across the
breadth of China, has touched the hearts of thousands of people," the
MIM description reads. "To pay tribute to the wonderful spirit of the
girl who saved the crane but lost her own life, a song has been composed
to tell this story. The song’s title is … 'A True Story'."
Cernunnos and the Ram-headed Serpent
Cernunnos and the Ram-headed Serpent make up a portion of the
"Spirits of the Wood" installation by MIM, an experiment in shade plant
sculptures. Cernunnos is the horned Celtic god of fertility and
represents the cultural unification of the Celts. "Far removed from its pervasive association with evil, the serpent
embodies immortality, infinity and the forces underpinning the creation
of all life," MIM's description reads.
Green Man
"Green Man," a medeival pagan god, is another part of the
weaving "Spirits of the Wood" installation by MIM. "Green Man" is
usually surrounded by oak leaves, considered an ancient sacred tree in
Great Britain, and fully embodies the spirit of trees. "'Spirits of the Wood' draws on the singular and magical cachet of
the willow plot to great effect," MIM describes. "The deities weave
among the willows, the better to integrate themselves into this
peaceful, majestic setting."
Planting plane trees to attract the Phoenix
Beijing's "Planting plane trees to attract the Phoenix,"
comprised of miniature begonias, represents an ancient Chinese legend,
which teaches that hard work can pay off for a beautiful planet and a
happy life. In Chinese culture, the phoenix is considered to bring
happiness, symbolizing peace and harmony. "'Planting plane trees to attract the Phoenix' interprets humans’
positive actions on their environment, highlights the symbiosis between
Man and Nature, and creates a harmonious musical movement based on
sustainable development," MIM describes.
Coexistence
"Coexistence" recalls both the landscape and environmental
initiatives of Busan, South Korea. The Dongnae Crane Dance is depicted
to show how humans and animals can interact peacefully. Busan emphasizes
balancing development with conservation and has many habitats for
threatened and endangered cranes.
Hands Up!
The eerily lifelike sculpture "Hands Up!" was submitted by
Borneo to raise awareness for the threatened orangutan. Bornean and
Sumatran orangutans have faced severe habitat loss in Borneo and may
have less than 10 years left on the planet, according to the Wildlife
Conservation Society.
The Man Who Planted Trees
Based on the Academy Award-winning 1987 short film, "The Man
Who Planted Trees" was MIM's first masterpiece. MIM consulted with the
filmmaker, Frédéric Back."'The Man Who Planted Trees' was conceived as a bona fide
mosaiculture garden stemming from the efforts of a single man, the
shepherd Elzéard Bouffier," the MIM description reads. "Through his
ceaseless and patient toil, he was able to transform a desolate, arid
expanse of land into a fertile territory verdant with field and forest." In the sculpture, the shepherd plants an oak tree near a flock of
sheep. Adjacent, a scene of horses frolicking in the prairie illustrates
the fruits of his efforts.
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