GUEST ARTIST

On Monday, Dec.1st, we visited a famous artist who is an expert at garden design and has designed many well-known gardens and he told us something about the culture of gardens.
At first, he introduced himself. His name is Zhao Bing. At the beginning Professor Zhao showed us some of classical Chinese Gardens. He explained that the word "garden" came from Latin: Gan and Eden, means wall and place for fun. A garden should contain walls, different lands, wells and trees. There is definition for garden is: a living place with beautiful design which based on plants, hills and stone, and water. In the east culture, gardens are divided in two parts. One is for keeping the beasts while the other one is for royal. However, in the west, they are holy forest. Here are some kinds of garden: royal gardens which for the imperial, private gardens which for one or a little group of people, religious gardens which for one religion and the rest for beautiful view. The most classical ones are Suzhou garden. These gardens are considered as an old city with forest. It's obviously different between a city and a primitive forest. The peace in the crowed and create a special feeling as if we are in the wonderland.
The gardens also can bring people a feeling of being back to the history. Many old style things can be found there, and make you feel as if you are in the Tang Dynasty. Zhao also said that a number of poems in Tang and Song Dynasty were written in the gardens.
Here is something special about old classical Chinese Garden, like Suzhou Garden. Every garden must contain hills, water, and stones. Hills just look like one integrated mass. They are designed and put correctly and seems created by nature. They have many gradations and some of them seem will fall down at any moment. Water is also very important. It should be put in the right place and looks natural. Designers gave them meaning and make them alive. Some people are interested in the strange stones. They are tall and straight but light can pass through it by any directions, and seem that they may change their appearance.
Professor told us a lot about the garden design. It is a really amazing project. However, I am not very interested in it. I don't like Chinese style gardens, for they look old and quiet and make me feel boring. Nevertheless, I also would like to see them if possible.