Contemporary Photography and the Garden—
Deceits & Fantasies

June 23, 2007 – September 16, 2007

A locus of humanity’s attempt to tame nature, gardens were a popular subject in photography of the late 19th century. In the early 20th century, however, gardens fell out of favor as artists began to embrace signs of modernity and urban life. Since the mid-1980s, the garden has recaptured the interest of artists, and a number have created rich bodies of photographic work that examine the garden’s diverse forms and metaphorical associations.

Contemporary Photography and the Garden—Deceits and Fantasies brings together the varied responses to the physical structure, atmosphere, and symbolism of the garden as represented in the work of 16 American and European artists. Their depictions of gardens range from tranquil havens to places of tension where exquisite beauty seems to coexist uneasily with inexorable forces of nature. Some of the artists exult in the lyrical beauty, sculptural forms, and luxuriant atmosphere of the garden. Others subvert the idea of the garden as a symbol of benign nature; their images play against the notion of a garden as an idyllic site for the pursuit of pleasure and provide a dark visual metaphor for the manipulation of nature.

Italian Landscape (3), 2000 Marc Quinn Permanent pigment on canvas 43 1/4 x 65 1/2 x 1 5/8 inches Courtesy of Jay Jopling, London	Allium giganteum, 1992 Linda Hackett Chromogenic color print 14 5/8 x 18 1/4 inches Courtesy the artist, New York
Hedge, Knightshayes Court, Devon, England, 1991 Lynn Geesaman Gelatin silver print, 24 x 24 inches Courtesy the artist and Yancey Richardson Gallery, New York	Air, 1989 Sally Apfelbaum Chromogenic dye print 40 x 30 inches Courtesy the artist

Organizer & Sponsor

This exhibition is organized by the American Federation of Arts.

The exhibition is made possible, in part, by a grant from the A.R. Brooks Trust. Additional support is provided by David L. Davies and John D. Weeden and the Founders Circle of the AFA.

Contemporary Photography and the Garden—Deceits and Fantasies Buy the book online