Jardins d’Asie, the exotic exhibition at the Musée Guimet - Our pictures

Princely or imperial gardens, temple gardens, cultured gardens, tea gardens, imaginary gardens dreamed by poets… The art of gardens is far richer and more surprising that we could think of. From Pakistan to Japan via China and India, the Musée des Arts Asiatiques Guimet provides us with a magnificent overview of this delicate and temporary art. The perfect exhibition to discover this summer for a total change of scenery. Meet from July 7 to September 20, 2021 at the Rotonde – on the second floor of the museum – to discover “Jardins d’Asie”.

Depending on the countries, customs, visitors, gardens thoroughly gardened in Asia can utterly change. Different countries, different climates, terrains, plants, conventions, histories… Asian countries presented throughout the exhibition all take special care to gardens, and express it in a single manner. The only common denominator being the calming or astounding beauty of these plant-based creations.

Throughout the exhibition, travel to the very heart of Asia and discover the culture of these fascinating countries. This odyssey revolves around three parts.

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First, we discover the gardens as places to gaze at, a feast to sore eyes. Works displayed enable to show structures and layouts characteristic to each civilization, where everything has been thought about to please the eyes and senses. An aesthetic difficult to master because it involves living places, always changing: trees grow, flowers wither, and light changes.

But as beautiful as they are, these gardens have been first and foremost made to be inhabited. One meditates, plays music, or writes poems, one roams around on their own or in groups, one sometimes throws a party… Each culture sees gardens as a place of life, but this life can be very different depending on where one comes from.

Finish at the beginning with a section of the exhibition devoted to the choice of plants. A garden is a place dedicated to nature in the middle of man-made constructions. The choice of plants offers a break to visitors and therefore is crucial: it is with the first flower planted one starts to build their garden.

According to landscapers, choosing plants and the way they are associated and set hold a very special symbol. They create a unique world within a far wider universe. Many questions – and even more answers – are raised all along the creation of a garden. Then, it comes to making a choice to create a place meeting sensations, and needs one wants from the soil.

These gardens are so important in Asia they are in the very core of many works of art now exhibited at the Musée Guimet. Mongolian miniatures, painted rolls from China, miniature trays from Japan or varied items found in all Asian countries (dishes, vases, fabrics, and so on.), the garden universe has been inspired artists for thousands of years.

Explanations matching these works of art are fascinating, and this exhibition invites you to roam around: the exhibition curator, Cécile Becker encourages us to observe, admire, and enjoy this stroll as you would in a genuine garden.

What about you? Will you be astounded by the beauty of Asian gardens?