As seduções do desejo, 2023

As seduções do desejo [The seductions of desire] is an installation that summons nature and the cultural notions it has been historically associated with. Looking at five gardens, five paradigmatic cases of natural spaces designed by human beings, I reinterpreted the character of each one of them in large woolen cloths according to compositions that explore collage and the superposition of elements. The 5 idyllic gardens object of my study are the Jardin Giverny (Giverny, France) by Claude Monet, the Sissinghurst Castle Garden by Vita Sackville-West (Sissinghurst, England), the Giardinni of Villa d’Este, commissioned by Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este (Tivoli, Italy), the Jardin Majorelle (Marrakech, Morocco) by Jacques Majorelle, and the Zen Garden of the Ryoan-ji temple (Kyoto, Japan).

These gardens are situated in distinct geographical contexts and cultural traditions and have always seduced me by the field of intensities and sensory stimuli they represent. The landscape architecture, the distribution of motifs, the chromatic palette, the excitement and serenity, and the surprise and enchantment they provide — each in its own way — offer me a unique aesthetic experience and awaken intense physical and emotional sensations.

The gathering of these 5 idyllic gardens frames a picnic scene, where a series of copper-covered utilitarian objects are arranged on a classic checkered tablecloth. The blanket and two pillows evoke the meeting of two people. The suggested performative action is completed with fresh food, fruits, and bread. The environment is amplified by Natura #8, with the sound of running water and chirping birds. A group of five stones, three granite, and two white quartzes, marks a place of reverence. The blue neon phrase, “¡No te vayas!” flickers in the space. Hanging from the ceiling, the piece Move out, a large sky painted in shades of blue, protects and surrounds all the elements.


Ana Pérez-Quiroga
May 18, 2023


Photography by Jorge das Neves