S P E C I A L E V E N T :

R O B E R T O B U R L E M A R X

 

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Photo courtesy of NYBG

long story short

Roberto Burle Marx was a landscape architect and painter from Brazil, whose designs and art was thought-provoking, colorful, abstract, and memorable to say the least. Working closely together, Raymond Jungles and the New York Botanical Garden brought his masterpieces to life, including traveling some of the many plant species he helped save or discover. This was the largest living exhibition at the NYBG to date.

once upon a time

Roberto Burle (pronounced bur-lee) Marx is one of the most significant landscape designers of the 20th century. Originally from Brazil, he traveled to study in Berlin, which is where he discovered the art of horticulture and botany, and especially became interested in the native plants of Brazil he saw at the Berlin Botanical Garden. Upon returning to Brazil, he became fascinated and invested in learning, understanding, and preserving the native plants of his country and the Amazon. He was one of the first people to speak out against deforestation of the Brazilian forests.

Known for some of his magnificent projects within a 3,000-project portfolio, many say Burle Marx was a painter turned landscape designer, as his complex, bold shapes and geometries were often first painted on canvas with loud colors and sharp edges, later soften by plants. His landscapes were nothing short of a work of art, outspoken in shapes, colors, and drama.

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Waterwalls are a significant part of Marx’s incredible garden. Mostly and initially painted in cubism-style art, some are telling a story of a specific social or political issue that Brazil was facing at the time of the piece’s creation. He believed in the significance of surrounding humans by nature, mainly preserving existing landscapes and continuing to add to them through design, and believed in the importance of water for softening hardscapes. This wall was created by Raymond Jungles, based on similar concrete wall that Burle Marx designed and built many years ago. Jungles, a student and friend of Marx, had photos of the process which helped create this central piece for the exhibition.

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His cubism and abstract paintings often were curved lines, most of which were the really unique and surprising paving patterns he was laying out. The curvilinear paths and abstract shapes make the space more free-flowing, easygoing, and approachable. Often only distinguished by two opposing colors, the space feels surrealistic and makes you feel like Alice stepping into wonderland.

P L A N T S

Roberto Burle Marx was a plant enthusiast and advocate. He strongly believed that it is crucial to bring plants to man, as it allowed for the soul to soften. He often used large and lush native Brazilian plants against harsh edges and his famous concrete waterwalls, since the contradiction brought to life a contrast of nature versus manmade. In 1949 Burle Marx acquired a large estate on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, accommodating his plant nursery, and tropical plant collection. During his lifetime, Marx created his own botanical garden at home collecting thousands of plant species, including over 500 philodendrons. This estate is now called Sítio Roberto Burle Marx, and is currently being considered for UNESCO World Heritage status.

Some of the many exotic houseplants we all love today are thanks to the species that Roberto Burle Marx saved or discovered during his time at the lesser traveled natural scenes of the Brazilian landscapes. Burle Marx is credited with discovering upwards of 50 new plant species. Many of them, including heliconia burle marxii, have been named in his honor.

Stapelia gigantea

Giant Colocasia

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Series of plants that Burle Marx was growing on the bae of trees for root protection, displayed and experimented with on a concrete wall

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** All photos by author unless otherwise noted.