Audio Transcript

As you wander through the Art Garden at The Henderson, you'll encounter playful green islands that mirror the curvatures of the Henderson building. These intriguing shapes are actually topiary sculptures crafted by British artist Darren Lerigo, who has dedicated over a decade to transforming garden landscapes into living art.

Lerigo describes his work as “green architecture”, viewing plants as vibrant mediums for artistic expression. When he starts pruning a garden, he often asks himself, “What shapes do these plants want to take?” This process involves a dialogue not just with the individual plants, but also with the surrounding landscape.

Lerigo’s topiary journey began in the scenic gardens of the English countryside, where he continues to breathe new life into historical designs. This piece marks his first public artwork in Hong Kong, created in collaboration with landscape architecture studio Gillespies. Together, they’ve pioneered a fresh approach to urban public gardens. Instead of letting plants fade into the background, Lerigo gives them distinct characters and personalities, boldly shaping them into fluid, living sculptures.