Lea Novi

The Golden Garden presents photographs printed on fabric and encased in clay frames. The images draw inspiration from the layered structure of permaculture systems, an approach that imitates ecosystems to create sustainable and self-sufficient environments. For example, the Lady’s Mantle, a ground cover plant, protects the soil by preventing it from drying out. Alongside these objects, a poetic video essay embedded in clay explores connections between transformation, and perception in this ecosystem.

The project grows out of my ongoing engagement with Food Forest Rotterdam, a continuous process of learning from the living landscape. It has prompted me to ask what roles plants have played and will continue to play on our planet.The work touches on seasonal rhythms, transformations, and mythologies that reveal hidden relationships between humans and plants. 

As an essential part of the soil, clay functions as a mediator in the work, while printed fabric evokes the feeling of subtle motion and softness. The Golden Garden reflects the understanding that plants are not objects but living beings, intelligent, interconnected, and vital. Through this attention, the work invites for a more empathetic relationship with the living environment.