More information about the exhibition
The new exhibition Gardens of the Future will open at the Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam on Saturday, November 16. This special exhibition explores our relationship with the garden as a refuge and as a place for innovative design ideas.
The exhibition explores the origins of the contemporary garden and searches for new models, using gardens by designers and artists such as Roberto Burle Marx, Jamaica Kincaid, Mien Ruys, Piet Oudolf and Derek Jarman.
Gardens are not always a reflection of our personal preferences or motivations. They can also reflect the influence of political and commercial agendas. This becomes clear in issues such as who owns a garden, how much space there is for gardens in urban areas, the role of vegetable gardens in self-sufficiency and food security, the historic colonial trade in flowers and plants, and the influence of manufacturers of garden tools and patio furniture on our taste.
Moreover, the garden is not only an idyllic place to retreat, but also a literal testing ground for new ideas and experiments. Gardens are increasingly seen as part of larger ecological systems, rather than a demarcated piece of land. Designers experiment in the garden with alternative, sustainable solutions for biodiversity, social justice and a sustainable future. The exhibition in the New Institute shows examples of winter gardens, vertical forests, community gardens, floating gardens, school gardens, roof greenhouses, food forests, urban farms and forest gardens.
Gardens of the Future was developed in collaboration with Vitra Design Museum and the culture and heritage foundation Wüstenrot Stiftung and was previously on display at Vitra, in Weil am Rhein, Germany. The original exhibition design was by the Italian design studio Formafantasma.
For the Dutch adaptation at Nieuwe Instituut, co-curator Maria Heinrich and spatial designer Frank Bruggeman have supplemented the exhibition with works from the archive of garden and landscape designer Michael van Gessel and local, nature-inclusive designs. Several Rotterdam examples are also included: Vreewijk, Tidal Park Eiland van Brienenoord, Wijktuin Ombloed, Hofbogenpark and the Nieuwe Tuin. Artist Ada Patterson created a work of art especially for this exhibition that forms a critical lens on the colonial relationships of gardens and history in Rotterdam.Gardens of the Future can be seen from November 16, 2024 to April 13, 2025 at the Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam. During the duration, the Nieuwe Instituut will organize various public programmes and workshops around the exhibition.
