Daniel Arsham: Gradient Blue Garden

Flamengo Park, Rio de Janeiro
September 11 - November 5, 2017

Constructed in Rio's Flamengo Park is Daniel Arsham's newest installation, "Gradient Blue Garden." Like many of Arsham's works, this piece takes a familiar icon, such as the Japanese zen garden, and subtly transforms it through the addition of color. "Gradient Blue Garden" is a public installation that stands as a complimentary addition to Arsham's larger museum project in Rio that includes his solo exhibition at Oi Futuro. The garden emerges in the midst of Rio's iconic landscape, creating a dialogue between the garden and the geographic landmark of Rio, such as Pão de Açúcar. As with traditional zen gardens, Arsham's "Gradient Blue Garden" creates an equilibrium with it's placement and its temporal nature. The pattern of the raking and the particular placement of the sculptures echo the stones and patterns of the Buddhist zen garden. "Gradient Blue Garden" looks as though it has not been altered since its creation, however it is re-raked and renewed every single day. As the visitor meditates within the space of the garden, they are invited to feel this manipulation of time and symbol, nature and artificial creation.