Parterre III [Flower bed III], Catherine Marcogliese, 2000
2000, Digne-les-Bains, Parc Saint-Benoît, Plants, metal forms and water
Catherine Marcogliese’s installation in the Musée Promenade is made up of several arabesque metal forms which, in winter, outline a flower bed like those of formal gardens. As the seasons progress, the plants planted by the artist gradually conceal the outline of the original bed. With this outdoor installation, Catherine Marcogliese continues reflection on the difficulties that Man meets when striving to order nature, such as creating a “flower bed”, a futile attempt at leaving the traces of a presence that will be erased when nature again takes possession of the site. Thus vegetation takes over, obliterating all traces of human work. Locating this installation on the walk in Saint-Benoît Park underlines the contrast between the regularity of a flower bed and the chaos of a natural forest, highlighting the contradiction between garden and nature.
Born in Canada in 1957, Catherine Marcogliese has been living and working in France since 1988. While photography is always present in Catherine Marcogliese’s work, she also creates installations by using the resources of the environment.
