Landscape artist Lily Kung will share her Chinese heritage at the New York Botanical Garden's Orchid Show, February 18 in Bronx, NY. Opens in the Haupt Conservatory.
Landscape artist Lily Kwong was mesmerized by the magic of orchids when she unveiled her masterpiece "Mungates" for Florida's Bal Harbor Warehouse at Art Basel Miami 2019. "This is the first time I have fully explored my heritage through my artistic practice, using traditional architectural elements found in Chinese gardens and thousands of unique and rare orchids," she told Travel + Leisure .
Preserved in antique ceramic vases, it evokes ancient memories of the ubiquitous flowering plant in his grandparents' home in Shanghai. "They are buried in my consciousness and waiting to be rediscovered," says the founder of the studio, Lily Kwong.
Now, Kwong is a guest designer at the New York Botanical Garden's (NYBG) "The Orchid Show: Natural Heritage," which showcases thousands of orchids from across Asia. It will be on view from February 18 to April 23, 2023 at the Enid Haupt Conservatory in the Bronx. This year's annual exhibition has added significance, not only because it is celebrating its 20th anniversary, but Kwong is the first woman to do so. Color to enter the role of design.
It's full circle time for the California native. “When I started my practice, I took classes in the NYBG certificate program with the intention of starting a traditional landscaping business,” he says. “Since then, my path has evolved into a rich and unique focus on broad botanical art and environmental impact. It is inspiring and exciting to have the opportunity to work with NYBG's world-class horticulture team to bring this vision to life.
Calling the event "one of the highlights of my career", Kwong drew inspiration for the exhibition from four large scrolls handed down to him by his parents and grandparents. "They hung in my living room when I was a child, and I was lost in my imagination when I first saw their beautiful mountains, tangled leaves and daily life in the Chinese countryside," he said. He could hear the sound of water and wind just by looking at the leaves.
She felt a "great desire" to recreate that painting for the show, so she asked her grandmother more questions about the artwork's symbolism—and that's when her grandmother's name, Jian Lan, "healthy orchid" in Mandarin means. . Two of his grandfather's sisters were also named Orchid, creating a close family bond with the event.
Plants in the orchid family — Kwong says there are more than 28,000 recognized species — have been cultivated in China's mountain valleys for more than 2,000 years and are "deeply woven into the country's philosophical, artistic and cultural heritage." Events require careful planning.
"One of the most difficult aspects of working with our plant palette is finding the species that bloom during the show," says Kwong. "The NYBG horticulture team orchestrated a complex ballet of seed collection, overseas shipping and flower timing to make this show a reality, and the result is a true feast for the senses."
Koong's interest in horticulture grew among the redwoods of California's Mill Valley, where his elementary school borders thousands of acres of natural resources, the Tennessee Valley, the Marin Highlands and Rodeo Beach. "Immersed in the power and wisdom of nature from a young age, I spent my early years in the forest building forts, foraging for edible plants, hiking and looking for animals and insects," he says. When she was in first grade, she started a nature club at school.
"In many ways, my mission is the same as the original Nature Club: to continue to celebrate nature, to explore its beauty and intelligence with my great plant friends and allies," said Kwong.
To be able to combine a lifelong love with one's heritage is poignant today, especially with the rise of anti-Asianism. "It's been a very difficult year for the Asian diaspora in New York City and beyond," Kwong said. "I have lived here for a long time and I have never felt that my community is afraid of physical violence and violence."
This fact drove him to strengthen his Chinese roots. He said, I want to present a pure cultural festival and a festival rich in diversity, philosophical tradition and artistic practice. “It seems like a special moment to share this exhibition with New York at the beginning of spring, as if we have come from darkness to light – three years after the pandemic that changed our world. And that's how I think you get through difficult times with the beauty and guidance of your own unique ancestors and light.
As the mother of a young son with comedian husband Nick Kroll, she shares her culture with her family through food, photos, stories and even "lightness".
And it's that same charm he hopes will please NYBG audiences. "Although this exhibit focuses on my Chinese heritage, I hope it will inspire people to see their ancestors' connection to the plant world," she said. “We all have people in our race who have a deep and intimate connection with the earth, or we wouldn't be here. I strongly believe that in order to survive as a species and restore harmony to this planet, we must learn the old ways and use them to create the best parts of our culture.
Tickets for Kwong's "The Orchid Show: Natural Heritage" with Orchid Nights - an after-dark experience with cocktails, food and music - can be purchased at nybg.org.
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