About the Work

TO THE EXTREME OF GREEN garden of even is a floor piece fashioned from linen, paper, glue, ink, and embroidery thread. It is shaped as an oval which houses a circular coordinate system that encompasses stretched contours. Each field is adorned with a collage of red-painted geometric paper pieces, while the interconnecting lines are embellished with delicate red French knots.

The artwork, akin to a rug, finds its name in a clever wordplay inspired by the Garden of Eden, conceptualised within the theme of the group exhibition: TO THE EXTREME OF GREEN. Beyond mere cartographic representation, this piece delves into the profound symbolism of the Garden of Eden, of always wishing to be at a perfect place, elsewhere, described in biblical texts, and draws connections to the vivid absence of the color green, exemplified by the presence of its complementary counterpart, red.

By using red, a hue associated with the heart, blood, passion, human connections, and via life to the natural environment, the artist seeks to convey deeper messages. Moreover, the contrasting symbolism of green, often linked to "go," and red, which signals "stop," highlights the pressing concern of rising temperatures and its repercussions on the delicate balance of nature. This artwork calls us to ponder the signs nature presents, signalling that harmony needs restoration.

© Camilla Howalt