Garden in Transit

Seasons Through the Looking Glass; CJ Lim/Studio 8 Architects

Seasons Through the Looking Glass is a recent installation by CJ Lim/Studio 8 Architects at the subway entrance to the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. The installation is made from honeycombed cardboard panels and rolled up fabric.
“Seasons through the Looking Glass” has been described as a multi-sensory and tactile intervention exploring the spatial possibilities of a subterranean garden. Although underground plants are not uncommon in the city of London, they are usually the type with ducts and boiler rooms rather than flowers and trees.
Nevertheless, residing in the underpass forecourt of the V & A, is a cartouche-shaped manicured shrubbery decorated with rose blossoms that taper to a crown before sprouting forked branches whose shadows are projected across the subway’s vaulted ceiling. Its trunk and twigs are constructed from honeycomb paper sandwich panels, its flowers from rolled recycled garments that change to reflect the seasons.
A large looking glass in the foot tunnel immediately beyond the entrance mirrors the exotic shrubbery structure, extending the station into virtual space. And all this to the baroque sounds of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons flowing along the station-museum link.
With autumn, the gardeners will paint the white roses of spring with autumn crimson and auburn; and winter will see a final metamorphosis in tint and texture to end the year.
“Seasons Through the Looking Glass” by CJ Lim/Studio 8 Architects runs until 29 March 2009 at the Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London.
more: www.cjlim-studio8.com/