Although British landscapers adopted this type of design and greatly contributed to popularizing English-style gardens throughout the Western world, we must nonetheless give to Caesar his due and discuss the Chinese and Japanese masters who are behind this naturalist trend. Chinese gardens Chinese gardens have evolved from hundreds of years of nature observation and the slow assimilation of national and regional cultures by gardeners of the Middle Empire, as China was known until the 19 th century. Since the creation of gardens was considered a superior art form by the Chinese, it was painters who established the rules of esthetics that still apply today. A Chinese gardener does not attempt to recreate nature. Rather, he strives to draw out the imminent beauty of the location by emphasizing what is already present, and by adding elements that will help make it a unique location.
Water is seen as an indispensable component.
A Chinese garden almost always includes pavilions, one or many pools of water, arched bridges and brightly coloured flowers. It is bordered by a wall where doors are cut out in the shape of four-leafed clovers. Japanese gardens Just as refined, Japanese gardens illustrate the constant struggle between yin and yang, by juxtaposing the fragile nature of a supple material such as reeds and the sturdiness of materials such as stone. In addition to the exhibition Monet at Giverny , other exhibits this winter have highlighted the close ties art has long entertained with water and nature. At the Biosphere, the exhibit The Quest for Water, presented until next March 27 th , explains the search for this elusive element in developing countries.