Pleasant Place - Issue 6: Topiary

Topiary is the practice of trimming and pruning trees and shrubs into clearly defined and fanciful shapes. As an art form, it is a type of living sculpture, and its practice in Europe dates from Roman times. Featured in this issue are a history of topiary and the changing views of nature by botanical philosopher Norbert Peeters; a conversation with Chris Crowder, head gardener of the celebrated topiary gardens at Levens Hall; the ancient Japanese tradition of ‘niwaki’, or sculpting trees; a glimpse of topiary’s future by artist Rustan Söderling; centrefold miniatures by Andrei Pacea, and more. ‘Pleasant Place’ is a growing collection of publications about the art of gardening. 

Description

Issue 6: Topiary

The art of trimming and pruning trees and shrubs into fanciful shapes. What’s up with our unrelenting desire to clip and sculpt the natural world into submission?

Including:
Magnum Opus Topiarium – Botanical philosopher Norbert Peeters takes us through the history of topiary and the changing views of nature.
Le Bal Des Ifs – a comic by artist Fiona Lutjenhuis.
Topiary in Art History – From holy, to phallic, to terrifying, topiary has been depicted in many ways.
It may have been a formal garden, once – We talked to the wonderful Chris Crowder, head gardener at Levens Hall, the oldest topiary gardens in the world.
Niwaki – Alec Schellinx observes the Japanese tradition of niwaki
What’s Eating Hedges – Writer Eliot Haworth ponders the fight against suburban monoculture. With illustrations by Jordan Herregraven.

The Shape of Shrubs to Come – A glimpse of the future of topiary by artist Rustan Söderling.

Centrefold miniatures by Andrei Pacea

The cover is by Lou-Lou van Staaveren & Guus Kaandorp and the inside cover is by Jan Dirk van der Burg

Graphic design is by fanfare
Concept and editing by Guus Kaandorp, Floor Kortman and Lou-Lou van Staaveren