Monet's Magical Garden
At Ordrupgaard Museum
(2016)
Dark Matters were commissioned to create a 146m2 physical adaptation of Monets garden for children. As part of Scandinavia’s biggest Monet exhibition 'Monet · Beyond Impressionism' at Ordrupgaard Museum.
We constructed an entirely nondigital garden installation, where children could explore different elements in Monet's garden through a french scenography with sensorial elements such as sound and scent.
The core play element of the garden was “the floor is made of lava” made with hand painted water lilies as the stepping stones spread throughout the garden "pond".
A weeping willow was made with two kilo-meters worth of climbing rope, two easels with custom Monet myriorama bricks for endless combinatorial play, a station where children matched a scent in a bottle with the appropriate flower's illustration hidden in drawers, and a crepe paper station for everyone to create their personal flower contribution to the garden and hang it on the rose arches. No Monet garden without the green footbridge, which is the centerpiece in the installation for the audience to enjoy the view of the 1500+ flowers designed carefully throughout the garden and listen to the sounds of the garden.
Credits
Concept, Development & Design: Dark Matters
Flower Design: Maison flowers
Flower Rental: Maison flowers & Royal Danish Theatre
Construction: Steen Holdt & Thomas Schwerdtfeger
Soundscape: Malthe Madsen
Bird Samples: Benny Gensbøl