Cultural Approach

 KLCC Park

02

Roberto Burle Marx

Pinterest. (2020). A Roberto Burle Marx garden in Kuala Lumpur. [online] Available at: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/541206080195347752/ 

‌Roberto Burle Marx

August 4, 1909 – June 4, 1994

Roberto Burle Marx was most famous for being a  Brazilian Landscape architect, however he also had an admiration for the arts such as: painting, print making, naturalism and music. Many of his designs featured characteristics from famous buildings and he took inspiration from the tropical plants from Brazil. 

Design Process

Marx used a variety of colours and shapes that weren't specifically influenced by landscape architecture, he instead took a modernist approach and this was vital to his overwhelming success. this included his concept for designing for future generations as well as the current population. I believe this is why he included so much colour and pattern in his work because he wanted to encourage people to design freely, even in the future where we cannot predict the trends that will be popular. Furthermore, his loose approach is designed to suit any building, that is placed near the sites he has created due the ranges of colours, that will suit any architectural design. 

His work is described as a mosaic, piecing together different concepts and arrangements, that favour informal shapes and lush flora. The abstract qualities of his work were brought to life with the use of planting and therefore turned his 2D artistic compositions into breathing art. 

Review

‘leave the world a little more sensitive and a little more educated to the importance of nature.’

I wanted to review one of Roberto Burle Marx's more popularised works, such as the Copacabana Beach or his abstract tapestries, but thought it would be interesting to research a simpler design with a water feature. in particular this piece is supposedly his last design and therefor holds an everlasting legacy that encompasses all of his findings over his long lasting professional career. 

The KLCC park generates a sense of tranquillity amongst the financial business park that surrounds it. I wonder if Marx was making a statement to a exaggerate the constant active lives we find ourselves in and that the space he has created is a safe haven away from the hustle of working. Likewise the colour of the water feature is similar to the glass of the distant buildings, implying that we should live intrinsically with relaxation, and incorporate this into our work lives. 

Although this piece is unusual for him, he has still implemented some of his motifs such as the curvilinear shapes and abstract concepts. I  believe that this composition characterises the fluid mark making and eye-catching colours to exemplify the end of an exploration through art and the effect it has on our everyday lives.