Garden 114 In the winter of 2001 the artists Heather and Ivan Morison acquired an overgrown allotment in Edgbaston, Birmingham. Once they had restored some semblance of order they became fascinated by the garden, which, after years of neglect, revealed the original Victorian beds and layout, as well as old apple trees and rose bushes. Thus emerged the character of Ivan Morison 'the gardener', who periodically reports, through printed cards, on the various horticultural activities that take place on his plot. As the Morisons recall, their intention when they acquired their plot was to use it as the site of a scale model of Derek Jarman's house, Prospect Cottage, where they could make works of art. Like the original Prospect Cottage, however, the house and garden have been transformed into a work of art in their own right. Their work has its roots in the Victorian period, since it has been moulded by the allotment they acquired in Edgbaston in 2001, which lies on ground that was once a Victorian pleasure garden. They initially took it on when they needed somewhere to install their miniature version of Derek Jarman’s Dungeness home, Prospect Cottage, but they soon found themselves entranced. Ivan would come home with tales of his struggles in the shrubbery or his haphazard planting schemes - something one inevitably finds oneself becoming more emotionally involved with that one feels is really becoming - and all of this began to seem like subject matter. A body of expert knowledge met with individual enthusiasm and this was expressed in printed card texts, which began to be issued from the garden. Thus, in the card I received last week, news of Ivan’s joy at his bedding schemes for summer 2004 (modestly and simply relayed): "Geranium Black Jubilee, Marigold Striped Marvel, Begonia Rose Petticoat, Salpiglossis Royale Chocolate, Fuschia Firecracker, Zinnia Peppermint Stick, Hibiscus Red Ace, Petunia Frilly Tunic Burgundy, Salvia Phoenix Bright Lilac..." A long-term project has been the gardening of a leisure garden in Edgbaston, Birmingham. The act of learning, gardening and the garden itself all constitute the work, with hundreds of people have been to visit the garden. Also during this time the gardens progress has been rigorously documented through drawings, photographs and film, and the successes and failures broadcast through texts printed on cards mailed to a carefully selected mailing list. Various works that have come out of Garden 114 can be seen by clicking on the links below: Printed cards from Garden 114, 2001-ongoing Colours in Ivan Morison's garden, summer 2001 Colours and sounds in Ivan Morison’s garden, spring 2002 Green Bush, 2002 Ivan Morison is very proud of his Long Green Striped marrow, 2002 Red Flares, 2002 Prospect Cottage, 2000 | |
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