"Horin´s Greenhouse"
“Das Treibhaus von Horin“, 1994
The installation was part of an exhibition of Czech and German artists in the park of the summer residence of the Lobkowicz dynasty near Prague
Greenhouse, 500 clay pots, 8 tons of bark mulch, planks, 200 kg peas, stones, odds found
After decades of communist rule, the aristocratic family Lobkowicz was able to repossess and cultivate their old property in the Czech Republic, one of these being the summer residence in Horin/Melnik near Prague.
For many years the greenhouse had been used to grow plants for the park around the summer residence.
Then the greenhouse had not been used for some years and was quite neglected.
In the context of a group exhibition I chose it for a temporary installation called ‘Horin’s Greenhouse’ and recultivated it.
I removed the uncontrolled growth, brought in about eight tons of bark mulch, fixed planks to put the clay pots on, and made bags full of beans available. I left an old bath tub and a rain coat I had found – which added an awakening spirit to the atmosphere, comparable to a sleeping beauty castle.
The result was a moving, almost magic place with the potential for new growth.
curated by art circolo, Munich