The garden, a place of innocence, nourishment, and joy, holds a special significance in various mythologies and literature. From the Eden in the Old Testament to Alcinous’s realm in The Odyssey, gardens have been portrayed as idyllic and self-contained spaces filled with luscious fruits and vibrant flora. The New York Botanical Garden captures the essence of these mythical enclaves, providing a serene escape from the bustling city that surrounds it. Inside, visitors can stroll through the azalea walks and rose bowers, while outside, the roads of the Bronx are obscured by a veil of haze.
A garden is not just nature in its purest form; it is a curated space, meticulously crafted to provide respite from the hardships of everyday life. It is a testament to human creativity and an oasis in a world filled with corruption. Ebony G Patterson’s installation, “. . . things come to thrive . . . in the shedding . . . in the molting . . .,” scattered throughout the Botanical Garden, serves as a gentle reminder of the darker side of life. The installation features hundreds of foam vultures, their dark and lustrous appearance contrasting with the surrounding greenery. They blend seamlessly among the coleuses, foxgloves, and petunias, forming sinister congregations.
Traditionally, vultures are seen as repulsive creatures, with their long necks, dark feathers, and intimidating beaks. They are associated with death and decay, rather than life. However, Patterson aims to challenge these preconceptions. She believes that vultures are creatures of love and redemption. They transform death into new beginnings, acting as the janitors of the natural world. By removing dead animals and cleaning the land of harmful bacteria, vultures play a crucial role in healing the landscape. Patterson showcases the beauty of these misunderstood creatures by adorning her sculptures with sparkling glitter, making them figures of elegance.
Patterson’s exploration of nature continues with a translucent peacock positioned at the entrance of the glassed-in Conservatory. This peacock, caught in mid-molt, portrays the common theme of discomfort during periods of change. Despite its less glamorous appearance, the peacock symbolizes that splendor is yet to come. The Botanical Garden, with its abundance of vibrant life, may make us forget the immense effort and precise planning required to create such a haven. It serves as a reminder that humans are responsible for maintaining the balance of our planet, a task we often fail at, leaving our mark on the environment.
To further emphasize the fragility of our ecosystem, Patterson resurrects extinct plant species through ghostly glass sculptures. These life-sized monuments stand among living flowers, representing the disappearance of species and the declining biodiversity of our planet. While extinction is a tragic event, Patterson presents it with a sense of contrarian optimism, reminding us that decay and loss make way for new forms of life. However, in the current Anthropocene era, these natural processes have been expedited, leaving little time for the evolution of new species.
Inside the Mertz Library Building, Patterson’s installation takes the form of baroque collages constructed from torn and cut-up botanical illustrations. These collages exude a somber exuberance, with darkness peeking through the colorful dazzle. They evoke the disconcerting feeling of approaching a beautiful creature in the woods, only to find it decaying and infested. Here, that nightmare comes to life in broad daylight. Bouquets teem with flies, and hidden among the celebratory blooms are cockroaches and scorpions. Snakes slither throughout, reminding us of their presence in both the ecosystem and mythology. They play their designated roles, even though we often associate them with evil.
Throughout the installation, there is a moralistic undertone, subtly warning us of the consequences of our actions. This becomes explicit in the centerpiece located beneath the rotunda. Visitors are guided past luxurious fabrics adorned with flowers and vines, representing the pleasures of the garden. However, on the other side of that installation, a wall of grasping hands and withered stalks creates an infernal atmosphere. This juxtaposition drives home the idea that while the garden offers temporary pleasure, it does not provide a true escape.
In conclusion, the New York Botanical Garden presents a thought-provoking exhibition through Ebony G Patterson’s installations. They challenge our perceptions of nature and invite us to reflect on the delicate balance of our environment. The garden, with all its curated beauty, serves as a reminder of the efforts required to maintain the natural world and the consequences of our actions.
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