TEL AVIV.- In the installation The Garden, a gallery at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art measuring an eighth of an acre is transformed into a spectacular and beguiling plot full of hills, trees, bushes, and flowers. Visitors are invited to wander the paths, linger in the garden’s nocturnal light, and listen to the sounds of nature. At first glance, the environment seems familiar, but in moments of doubt questions arise as to how natural it is and about the meaning of a garden and its role in the relationship between nature and man.

In this garden, a variety of trees and other vegetation have been installed, some gathered in nature, others made of plastic and silk but looking deceptively natural. The normal laws of nature do not apply here; rather, what we see is a juxtaposition of diverse geographies, seasons and times. In an era when the notion of the real is fundamentally changing due to advanced technologies such as virtual reality (VR) or innovative manufacturing, there are new ways of creating imaginary environments or precise replicas that are perceived as realistic. Be it physical objects or a virtual experience, the surrounding environment often challenges one’s visual sense and may require us to enlist other senses.

The dusk light marks a moment of change and a point of transition. It intensifies the delicacy of the plants, emphasizes the gentle slopes of the knolls, and invites viewers to an experience that straddles the realistic and fantastic. At this time, in this place, sounds are experienced differently. The soft rustle of leaves mingles with deep and distant sounds, unexpected beats and organic rhythms that bring to mind nature’s cyclical aspect.

The Garden’s design was founded on familiar environmental development processes in the field of landscape architecture. The design of parks and gardens within cities has become common since the nineteenth century, as cities’ populations grew rapidly during the Industrial Revolution. As cities expanded in size, there was greater need for green leisure and recreation spaces for their residents. The installation was designed with environmentally conscious care in the selection of materials, methods of construction and disassembly. All the elements are intended for reuse.

The Garden’s creator is Yael Moria, a landscape architect and urban designer who engages with public spaces through research and design. She has led numerous innovative environmental and urban projects in Israel.

Curator: Maya Vinitsky | Assistant Curator: Efrat Levy