CD Water Lilies - Bruce Monro

Tripping the light fantastic

Monet's Water Lilies referenced in Pennsylvania work by British installation and light artist Bruce Monro

As publishers of the very fine Land And Environmental Art we're always interested in ways artists are interacting with the landscape and creating site specific art - however high or low concept. So we were happy when someone tipped us off to British installation artist Bruce Monro's recent placement of 65,000 recycled CDs in the landscape of Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. 

 

CD Water Lilies - Bruce Monro
CD Water Lilies - Bruce Monro

 

Monro, who works with light, covered the 23 acres of the Gardens by recycling more than 65,000 discs to form a contemporary Waterlilies in Bloom. The piece greets visitors with a metallic glow as it pays homage to Longwood's already legendary locally water lilies. The retired discs float along the Large Lake during the day, reflecting flashes of sunlight in a rainbow of colours. Try doing that with MP3s.  Munro says, "The unmatched beauty of Longwood Gardens inspired me in so many ways. To create works that speak to the landscape but also enhance the natural beauty of the Gardens was an exciting artistic challenge.”

 

The real thing at Longwood
The real thing at Longwood