Artist’s Garden

Not only natural marvels: among the hills of Maremma there are places that were conceived following the creativity of great national and international artists. Getting inspired by the beauty of the landscapes and by the lively culture of this region, they chose this land to realise small artistic gardens, and it is the whole territory of Maremma that is dotted with this kind of hidden gems. Besides the renown Tarot Garden, nearby the famous town of Capalbio, other gardens deserve to be pointed out: Daniel Spoerri’s Garden in Seggiano, on Mount Amiata, the distinctive Garden of Sounds designed by Paul Fuchs in Boccheggiano, Il Viaggio di Ritorno by Rodolfo Lacquaniti in the municipality of Castiglione della Pescaia and Mauro Corbani’s Giardino d’artista in Scarlino. The Tarot Garden Designed by artist Niki de Saint Phalle, the Tarot Garden in Capalbio should be on everyone’s bucket list. Visiting it means taking a journey in the eclectic and sophisticated mind of this artist, who through her sculptures intended to express a philosophy connected to the Major Arcana of the Tarots. Yet this remains a pure walk through art, with visitors left free to interpret the artwork in any way they wish to, according to their personal point of view. 21 garish sculptures, mainly built using the mosaic technique, represent the 21 arcana of the tarot deck, a sort of metaphor of life and a call for introspection at the same time. The French-American artist visibly got her inspiration, as she stated herself, both from Bomarzo’s Parco dei Mostri (Park of Monsters) nearby Villa d’Este in Tivoli, and from the work of the Spanish master Gaudi, whose Parque Güell in Barcelona evidently influenced her. The Tarot Garden was entirely self-financed by the artist, who worked on this project from 1979 to 2002, when she passed. Visiting this park one will notice some of the sculptures have remained unfinished: this was an explicit bequest of the artist who also gave specific instructions about its opening to the public and even about the preservation of her creations. This endless work was carried out together with her husband Jean Tinguely, creator of the many mechanical semi-moving structures that are scattered around the garden. Furthermore this artist’s garden features elements that represent the contribution of other prestigious artists of the likes of Nico Weber, Sepp Imhof, Paul Wiedmer, Dok van Winsen, Pierre Marie and Isabelle Le Jeune, Alan Davie and Marino Karella. For more information Il Giardino dei Tarocchi- località Garavicchio Capalbio (GR) tel. +39 0564895122 website: nikidesaintphalle.com Daniel Spoerri’s Garden A 20 hectare-garden where the artworks of approximately 50 contemporary artists are displayed, integrated with the surrounding nature thus creating a dreamlike atmosphere: that’s what Daniel Spoerri’s Garden is. This presents visitors with a structured itinerary along which each piece has a specific location and meaning, although those wishing to just wonder about are free to do so, letting the art surprise them as they walk. This outstanding garden bears the name of the multifaceted artist Daniel Spoerri, mainly famous as a choreographer but also dancer, painter and sculptor from Romania, naturalised Swiss during the Nazi era. Spoerri started working on this project over twenty years ago, opening his artist’s garden to the public in 1997. It is located right outside the charming town of Seggiano, in the Alta (upper) Val d’Orcia, approximately one hour away from Grosseto. Some of the most suggestive art works put on display are the iron origami by the Japanese artist Kimitake Sato, an installation by Spoerri titled “Warriors of the Night”, Spoerri’s “Mannequins”, seven bronze sculptures that revoke Miró’s imaginative figures; “Dies irae Jour de colère” by Olivier Estoppey: 160 concrete ducks marching towards Seggiano, guided by three drummers, over 3 m high. The garden is only open to the public at specific times of the year, following specific opening times, and reservations can become compulsory for guided visits, depending on the case. For more information Fondazione il Giardino di Daniel Spoerri (province road Pescina località il Giardino) Seggiano (GR) tel. +39 0564950553 website: danielspoerri.org Paul Fuchs’ Garden of Sounds The Garden of Sounds is a small, beautiful museum-park of approximately 2 hectares located in Boccheggiano, a small hilly district of the municipality of Montieri, in the Colline Metallifere area. More specifically, it is situated inside the garden of the German artist’s private home. It is Paul Fuchs himself who guides visitors and let them discover its majestic iron and stone installations, which in spite of their size look as light as a feather. These were meticulously placed so that they would be “played” by the wind, tuning with the sounds of the surrounding woods (hence the name Garden of Sounds). This evocative artist’s garden is only accessible upon reservation. For more information Il Giardino dei Suoni di Paul Fuchs (Podere Pianuglioli) Boccheggiano – Montieri (GR) tel. +39 0566998221 website: paulfuchs.com Viaggio di Ritorno by Rodolfo Lacquaniti The garden named Viaggio di Ritorno (A Return Journey) is a small art-devoted corner of the municipality of Castiglione della Pescaia, realised by the bio-architect Rodolfo Lacquaniti. This is a timeless place, an actual journey into the genius of a man who aims at directing his creations towards a blend of art and morale. Lacquaniti’s artwork is entirely realised with waste or recycled material, as his manifest goal is to raise visitors’ awareness of nature and of the effects of atmosphere pollution. This is actually a project of recycled art that involves the countryside and farms of this small part of Buriano. The garden can only be visited upon reservation, as each tour is led by the artist himself, who presents his extraordinary art. For more information Il Giardino Viaggio di Ritorno by Rodolfo Lacquaniti Castiglione della Pescaia (GR) tel. +39 3355247472 website: rodolfolacquaniti.com Mauro Corbani’s Giardino d’Artista Cultural contamination is the main source of inspiration for the unceasing traveller that is Mauro Corbani. That is how the materials retrieved in the old, abandoned mines of the Colline Metallifere, in combination with other objects coming from the rest of the world, originated the 32 sculptures that are now in his garden, in the heart of the medieval town of Scarlino. For more information Mauro Corbani’s Casa e Giardino d’Artista , via Martiri d’Istia 14, Scarlino (GR) tel. +39 0564453128 .

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