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Eucalyptus Light and Shadow
A contrast in scale, this striking garden draws on the unique, paradoxical, and mysterious qualities of the eucalypt, a plant emblematic of the Australian landscape. The remarkable genus Eucalyptus comprises up to 700 species, only a few of which are not endemic to Australia. The enormous height and robustness of the eucalypt tree, combined with the decorative and delicate nature of the leaves and limbs, have inspired the design of this garden, which is at once a distillation of forms suggested by the eucalypt and an interpretation of a national symbol.
Staggered metal screens, which together form the shape of the eucalypt leaf, are perforated with magnified microscopic designs that recall the plant's cell structure. The verticality of the screens refers to the way the leaves present themselves to the sun, an adaptation in a hot and dry climate to prevent water loss. The fine transparency of the screens projects patterns of light and shadow on the red ground, reminiscent of the filtered light that breaks through the leaves and makes them appear filigreed. The experience of walking through the installation is one of gradual progression from openness to partial closure, changing with each step and turn of the head. A sinuous ribbon of eucalypt seedlings alludes to the way the plant grows opportunistically along ephemeral waterways.
Architect: Taylor Cullity Lethlean Landscape Architects Kate Cullity, Ryan Sims
Years of exhibition: 2005
