The Art of Garden Maintenance
On Thursday evenings May 16, 23 and 30 I projected my video “’The Art of Garden Maintenance” at De Heg at the Marineterrein in Amsterdam.
Gardening is an activity that demands undivided attention, peace, and concentration. Nature determines the path; you surrender to it and relax. In theory at least.
At first glance the gardens appear neat and trimmed, but each has its own peculiarities. An absurd video in which residents talk about their gardens and gardens talk about their residents. We don’t get to see any of the residents. We look at shrubs, trees and other plants that take on personalities after being personified by a piece of clothing or a personal item from their owner. And while the residents talk passionately about their gardens, they unconsciously reflect on their way of life. They frequently turn out to be just as irrepressible as nature, and the contradictions that characterize our relationship with nature soon emerge.
