'I appreciate your efforts to promote Irish Arts in China and your achievements to date in building artistic and cultural bridges between our two countries. I wish you every success with the project'Mr. Bertie Aherne, Taoiseach of Ireland
Poet Thomas Kinsella’s 'Táin' Bo Cuailgne' was the inspiration behind the design of this unique collaborative project which has been enthusiastically endorsed by the Irish Minister for Arts, Sports & Tourism and by the Irish Ambassador to China.
The Garden which will be built on a prestigious site in Chaoyang Park (Chaoyang District is the Business & Embassy district of Beijing) embedded with artworks and plaques bearing excerpts from the story (in English & Chinese) has been designed by Fion Gunn (artist) and John Ketch (landscape architect) and has benefitted from the technical support of Pan Yiqun and Guan Donghai from TsinghuaUniversity.
Garden of the Táin is a 'narrative garden' reflecting a long tradition of such gardens in China. Its construction will draw together the aesthetics of East and West in a spectacular way and provide an inclusive amenity for Beijingers and tourists alike.
Garden of the Táin will encompass contemporary environmental practice with an emphasis on sustainability, renew-ability and ecological appropriateness. Much of the Garden will be wheelchair accessible and provide a safe environment for people with special needs.
TOURISM IRELAND is sponsoring the
Garden of the Táin
AWARDS : Culture Ireland has awarded 20000 euros and the Irish Literature Exchange has awarded a grant of 6038 euros to cover the cost of translating and publishing Thomas Kinsella's 'Táin' into Chinese. The book will be launched at the inauguration of the Garden.
BEIJING 2009
Garden of the Táin will encompass contemporary environmental practice with an emphasis on sustainability, renew-ability and ecological appropriateness. Much of the Garden will be wheelchair accessible and provide a safe environment for people with special needs.