The Tiger Glen Garden: A Masterpiece of Contemplation

Unveiling Marc Peter Keane's Award-Winning Garden Design

The Tiger Glen Garden is a testament to the power of storytelling and the influence of cultural narratives on art and design. The garden draws its inspiration from the Three Laughers of the Tiger Glen, an ancient Chinese parable about unity and friendship. This parable has been the subject of numerous paintings throughout history in China and Japan, and it is this rich artistic tradition that Keane sought to capture in the design of the garden.

Located in the new wing of the Johnson Museum of Art, the garden is a harmonious blend of natural elements and architectural design. The garden's aesthetic is rooted in the Japanese karesansui style, characterized by its abstract representations of nature using an arrangement of stones. This minimalist approach complements the museum's architecture and echoes the aesthetics of the paintings that inspired it.

The garden's design is simple yet profound, primarily featuring stones and moss. The stones are weathered metamorphic boulders known as gneiss, collected from a forest. The moss groundcover is a quilt of 12 species, also collected from the same forest. A Japanese red pine tree, pruned annually by a Kyoto-trained gardener, adds a touch of life to the garden. The grey and green palette of the garden resonates with the exposed concrete architecture of the museum.

The Tiger Glen Garden is not just a visual spectacle, but also an interactive experience. Visitors can view the garden from inside the museum through large plate-glass windows or step outside into the garden courtyard. Many find that the garden inspires a contemplative mood, encouraging them to sit quietly on the large stone benches and lose themselves in the serene atmosphere.

Creating the Tiger Glen Garden was a journey of research and creative exploration for Keane. The design process involved an in-depth study of the Three Laughers theme and the art history associated with it. It also required extensive research into the cultivation of moss, a challenging but integral component of the garden. The result is a garden that captures the essence of an ancient parable and recreates it in a contemporary context, offering a unique space for contemplation and tranquility.

With its unique design and profound symbolism, the Tiger Glen Garden stands as a testament to Marc Peter Keane's mastery in garden design. It is a space where literature, painting, and gardens intersect, offering visitors a unique experience of contemplation and tranquility. The garden's recognition with the Golden A' Landscape Planning and Garden Design Award in 2013 further underscores its significance as a remarkable piece of design.