Lisa Cheung
The Summer Palace at The Southport Flower Show
16 - 19 August 2007
A Foundation working in collaboration with The Southport Flower Show has invited artist Lisa Cheung to develop an offsite project as part of our Education and Outreach programme. Lisa’s practice as an artist is multifaceted and she uses a variety of media such as drawing, sculpture, installation and photography. Given her interest in the interaction of people and art, Lisa's work is highly participatory. Generosity is also a major component of her work and she is perhaps best known for her ‘Public Feasts’. These one-off events see Lisa creating magical environments from lovingly prepared vegetables, which people are then invited to tear down and cook in communal woks.
For The Southport Flower show Lisa has worked with Seki Hirano from if [untitled] architects to design a large outdoor sculpture called The Summer Palace. The structure of Summer Palace echoes walled gardens, hidden retreats and tea pavilions to create both public and intimate social space. The design of the sculpture is adaptable, and can change form and function according to purpose. The sculpture offers a social space composed of seating, shade and tea. A special tea will be brewed and served in uniquely designed cups.
The Summer Palace will also house 100 prized house plants belonging to different community groups and associations in and around Southport and Liverpool, becoming one large-scale, collective flower show display. Various groups will be invited to submit their special plant for display within the sculpture for the duration of the show. These plants will be contributions, not submitted for competition but rather for the sheer pleasure of sharing their beauty and enjoyment.
Each group will also be asked to share their personal relationship to that particular plant and why it is special to them. These personal plant stories will be documented onto a set of limited edition teacups that will be used in the Summer Palace to serve a special tea to visitors at the Flower Show.
Lisa has recently become the first artist in residence at the Museum of Garden History in London, where she has been exploring the archives and piecing together the stories behind the objects donated to the Museum. Investigating the notions of collecting, garden history and personal stories and memories, Lisa has researched and interviewed the many people who have contributed in some way to the archives and collection of the Museum. Bringing together the results of her residency, Lisa has produced an audio guide, which includes snippets of people’s personal stories about the objects within the Museum.
The Summer Palace will move to Greenland Street Cafe for an Autumn Garden Party in October 2007. This will coincide with a day's discussion looking at the historical relationship between artists and gardens.
For more information about Lisa Cheung and her work visit www.lisacheung.com
For more information about if [untitled] architects visit:
www.if-untitled.com
For more information about the Southport Flower Show please visit www.southportflowershow.co.uk
Individuals/Groups contributing to Summer Palace at Southport Flower Show 2007
A Foundation
Active Age Centre, Age Concern, Liverpool
Age Concern, Southport
Ainsdale Police Station
Allerton Allotments
Alpine Garden Society
Birkdale Civic Society
Birkdale Irrigation Allotments
Bootle Gardens Allotments
Bothy Folk Song Club
British Cactus & Succulent Society
CAT Horticultural Project
Cottage Garden Society
Dingle Vale Allotments
Grandison Allotments
Green Gym
Greenpeace Support Group
Hindu Cultural Centre
Lancashire & Cheshire Carnation Society
Lancs Veg
Mary Pane
Marjorie Howie
MCARF against Racism & Fascism
Merseyside National Trust Environmental Volunteers
Merseyside Society for Deaf People – Youth Group
National Society of Allotments & Leisure Gardens
North West Hardy Plant Society
Pagoda Chinese Community Centre
Practice Makes Perfect
Queens Way Allotments
Rice Lane City Farm
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Sahir House
Scouse Veg
Seeds Lane Allotments
Sefton Old People’s Forum
Sikh Community Centre
Southport Horticultural Society
Southport Photographic Society
St Michael’s Irish Centre
The Liverpool Botanical Society
Town Lane Allotments
West Lancashire Flower Club
Young at Heart Club, Salvation Army
Commission supported by:
Arts Council North West
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Summer Palace at Greenland Street
Images by Rob Meighen
Images by Rob Meighen
Lisa Cheung
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