Summer Exhibition 'Hortus' Opens at Tartu University Botanical Garden
The tropical greenhouse of Tartu University Botanical Garden hosts the summer exhibition 'Hortus', featuring sculptures by students and graduates of the Pallas Higher Art School, installed after plants were moved outdoors.
The summer exhibition 'Hortus' has opened in the tropical greenhouse of the University of Tartu Botanical Garden. The display is the work of students and alumni from the Pallas Higher Art School, who filled the space left after many plants were moved outside for the summer.
According to gardener Kristiine Fenske, the Estonian summer is ideal for these plants, providing cool nights, optimal humidity, and moderate temperatures. Rain helps clean the plants and removes pests. Among the plants relocated outdoors are araucarias, several aloe species, and numerous orchids.
Inspired by nature and its processes of adaptation and evolution, the exhibition 'Hortus' aims to blend art with the environment. Sculptor Mairoos Mett explained that the creative process involved assembling the works and finding the best spots for each piece in the now-empty corners of the greenhouse. Some sculptures blend seamlessly into the surroundings, while others stand out, much like brightly colored frogs in nature.
Fenske noted that students were asked to ensure their artworks could withstand the tropical greenhouse's heat and regular watering. The exhibition will be open until early September.
