International Mosaiculture
Exhibition
Montreal - Summer
2013
Once every three years, there is an
international competition in horticultural sculpture, called
"mosaiculture,"in a major city in the world. Mosaiculture “is
a refined horticultural art that involves creating and mounting living
artworks made primarily from plants with colourful foliage (generally
annuals, and occasionally perennials).” It is also a highly complex form
of art, requiring different sets of skills from all the participating
artists: not only do they have to plan and build the framework of the
sculpture and match the colors, it is also important to understand the
maintenance of each plant they use.
Considered the world’s most
prestigious competition of horticultural art, the 2013 edition of
Mosaiculture is currently on display at Montreal Botanical Garden in
Quebec, Canada. More than three million flowers were raised in greenhouses
throughout Quebec, and then shipped to the gardens in May, where designers
wrapped them in steel meshes to create living works of art. The sculptures
are created using steel or aluminum forms that are wrapped in metal mesh,
filled with earth and planted with flowers, ivies and grasses whose
foliage provides texture and color. Interior watering systems and growing
medium were added so that the flowers could last all through the summer
till the end of the exhibition on September 29. Over 50
sculptures grace the 2 mile walk through the enchanting grounds of
the Botanical Garden. The theme this year is “Land of
Hope”. Around 200 horticultural artists are taking part
in this international competition, representing 20
countries.
