Gems! for the Garden is an experiment bringing together ten international artists interested in the intricate interplay between humanity and the natural world. Given the opportunity to showcase their artworks in Bucharest’s charming Botanical Garden, the artists engage with the trees, plants, water systems, and creatures that inhabit the location.
Strolling through the garden, the visitors come across artworks interspersed between the greenhouses and the parks. These interventions add a pinch of magic to the garden while paying homage to the beauty and importance of its natural elements. With a multi-sensory and interdisciplinary approach, Gems! for the Garden sparks new connections between art, everyday urban life, and nature.
Through curious sculptures, immersive sound installations, and bewitching videos, each artist delivers a delightful interaction with the scenery. The practices draw inspiration from a multitude of topics, ranging from the intricacies of plant life and ecological systems to old customs that used to define humanity’s relationship with nature, to systems that further damaged this relationship.
Thus, the exhibition weaves together multiple threads of significance beyond contemporary art. Firstly, it emphasizes the ingrained restorative and myth-making roles that both art and nature have traditionally played in our lives. Secondly, it explores fresh perspectives on the relationship between the two, and how they can mutually enhance one another in public spaces. Most importantly, Gems! for the Garden is an invitation to reflect on the magic that flora and fauna can bring to our everyday life in urban environments.