INTERNI MATERIAE

On the occasion of the exhibition-event INTERNI MATERIAE, Annabel Karim Kassar recreates at the Orto Botanico di Brera an authorial vision of the mysterious lost garden at the end of the world described in classical legends.

The Garden of the Hesperides, created for Rubner Haus and ABS Group, is in fact the architectural representation of a legend defined by the presence of a portico and iconic figures hand-painted by the designer, inspired by the Eden-like setting that hosts her work.

One of the most beautiful places in the city becomes the privileged stage for an ancient legend: that of a lost garden at the end of the world where golden apples grow, capable of granting eternal life. The fruits are guarded by the mysterious nymphs known as the Hesperides, while the Edenic serenity of the place is threatened by a hundred-headed serpent. Annabel Karim Kassar provides an architectural visualization of the tale by using a long portico built with wooden beams, which occupies the main avenue of the Garden and guides visitors toward a sundial representing the passage of time. Around the portico are the Hesperides, in the form of icons set into pedestals arranged in two large circles—respecting the strict logic of a Roman garden—and painted from life by the designer herself. “Our inspiration for this project,” Kassar stated, “is the Garden itself, with its history, its precious flora, and the wonderful team that works there.”

At the heart of Annabel Karim Kassar’s installation is the portico built with wooden beams and laminated panels, whose components can be reused after disassembly. The decorated flooring provides durability and is accessible to wheelchairs. The icons of the Hesperides, painted from life by the designer, are housed in custom steel display cases. The portico is illuminated by battery-powered lights, while external spotlights enhance the intensity of the work.