Mosaïcultures Internationales de Montréal 2013 - part 6
In 2013, the Montreal International Mosaïcultures exhibition was at the Montreal Botanical Garden. The theme was Earth of Hope. With 48 spectacular works from 18 countries, the Botanical Garden was transformed into a wonderland from June 22 to September 29. The exhibition has been extended to October 6 for people to see the works awarded by the jury and by the public.
On June 9, 2013, I was fortunate enough to have a day pass; I was able to visit and photograph the mosaicultures as they were being assembled. Here are my best photos taken before, during, and after this sensational exhibition. The works are numbered from 1 to 48, as in the order of the plan in 2013.
I made eight projects of six works to show you all the horticultural and environmental creations of this exhibition. A ninth project will soon follow with the 25 award-winning works.
Here is a short video that quickly shows the assembly of some works.
In this project, you will see mosaics from : Turkey, Thailand, China, Japan & Canada.
31. Turkey – Gaziantep – Gipsy or Gaïa
The Gypsy Girl - the "gypsy" - has melancholic features. Her hair is parted in the middle and covered with a cap. Her forehead is short, her face is innocent and her cheekbones are well rounded. She can follow you with her eyes, 360 degrees. Her short forehead and cap earned her the nickname Gypsy Girl when the mosaic was discovered.
Some archaeologists claim that it is Alexander the Great, because of the way his hair is parted, his eyes and his nose. Others believe it is a representation of Gaia, the goddess of the Earth, and still others point to the vines in the background and claim it is Dionysus. Whoever she is, her rather sad face has become the symbol of Zeugma.
This mosaic was discovered in the dining room of the gypsy's house (Menad) during excavations organised by the Gaziantep Museum Directorate in 2000.
Noticing where a new dam on the Euphrates River was to be built, archaeologists got together in 1995 to carry out an emergency expedition to the site.
There they discovered the ruins of Zeugma and extracted multiple works such as the "gypsy". Today, the site lies beneath the reservoir created by the construction of the Birecik Dam.
This mosaiculture was made with 16,000 plants.
In this short video of 11 seconds, we see Gypsy Girl : Vidéos de Gypsy Girl - Go Turkiye
And, here images from the Zeugma mosaic museum: Zeugma Mosaic Museum - Wikipedia
32. Thaïlande – Sun Bath
The wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee), also called Asian buffalo and Asiatic buffalo, is a large bovine native to the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List since 1986, as the remaining population totals less than 4, 000, with an estimate of fewer than 2, 500 mature individuals. The population decline of at least 50% over the last three generations (24–30 years) is projected to continue. The global population has been estimated at 3, 400 individuals, of which 3, 100 (91%) live in India, mostly in Assam. The wild water buffalo represents most likely the ancestor of the domestic water buffalo.
In Thailand, wild buffaloes have been reported to occur in small herds of less than 40 individuals. A population of 25–60 individuals inhabited lowland areas of the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary between December 1999 and April 2001. This population has not grown significantly in 15 years, and may be interbreeding with domestic water buffalo.
I didn't find out how many wild water buffalo were left in Thailand in 2021, but the number has probably decreased.
Characteristics
Wild water buffalo are larger and heavier than domestic buffalo, and weigh from 700 to 1200 kg. Their head-to-body-length is 240 to 300 cm with a tail 60 to 100 cm long, and a shoulder height of 150 to 190 cm. Both sexes carry horns.
Distribution and habitat
Wild water buffalos occur in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, and Cambodia, with an unconfirmed population in Myanmar. They have been extirpated in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Laos, and Vietnam. They are associated with wet grasslands, swamps and densely vegetated river valleys.
33. Canada – Saint-Leonard
The Mallard Ducks - The Ambassadors of International Mosaicultures
As part of MIM2013, the borough of Saint-Leonard, in Montreal, has decided to present the work that has become the emblem of the International Mosaiculture throughout the world: The Mallard Ducks.
Created during the first edition of Mosaïcultures Internationales held in Montreal in 2000, this work has been traveling the world for 13 years. Back in Montreal, as part of MIM2013, our ducks participated in the 2006 edition of the International Mosaiculture in Shanghai (MIS2006) and the 2009 edition in Hamamatsu, Japan (MIH2009).
At MIM2000, a mallard duck adopted one of the mosaic ducks to lay her eggs. In the early summer of 2000, seven ducklings jumped into the water of the Lachine Canal to frolic and take flight.
In the meantime, they traveled through Europe, the United States and the Asia.
In 2013, during my visits, I saw mallards near the duck sculptures. In the water, near their legs or on the ducks' heads and wings. It was very cute to see them.
The Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is the most abundant and widely distributed dabbling duck species in Canada, and is most abundant in the Prairie provinces. Mallards have been spreading eastward for decades and are now well established in the Maritimes. In western Canada, the Mallard population has recovered from the drought periods of the 1980's and early 2000's and has been increasing since 2006. The population in eastern Canada has also been increasing steadily. Mallard harvest levels have declined in the 1970s to the 1980s but have since stabilized. It remains the most extensively hunted duck species across the country. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
34. China – Beijing – Planting a Plane Tree to Attract the Phoenix
In ancient Chinese legend, the Phoenix is the king of birds. Among people today, it is still a good luck charm and a symbol of peace and harmony. The mosaic work is inspired by a beautiful ancient Chinese legend - If you plant plane trees, it is to attract the Phoenix - to tell people that with hard work on the land of hope, our living environment will become more and more happy. Planting Plane Trees to Attract the Phoenix interprets the positive actions of man on his environment, emphasizes the symbiosis between man and nature and composes a harmonious musical movement of sustainable development. The innovation of this work lies in the use of miniature begonia flowering plants to best illustrate the multicolored plumage of the Phoenix.
Because it regenerates its bark in patches, the plane tree symbolized regeneration in Greek mythology. This tree, whose species can be found throughout the northern hemisphere, has a maximum lifespan estimated at 1000 years!
***
There are several versions of the rebirth of the Phoenix. Several are cited in this link, including this one in "Alternate Variations of the Story."
A lesser known version of the story of the Phoenix claims that the Phoenix begins to show signs of age when it reaches the final years of its lifespan. It flies to the mortal world – losing many of its beautiful feathers and lovely coloration along the way. When it finished building its nest, it sets itself on fire (similar to the first version) allowing the next Phoenix to come forward.
35. Japan – Okinawa – Little clown fish and Sea Anemone
Okinawa, in the south of Japan, is an island with a subtropical climate surrounded by coral reefs.
The coexistence of clownfish and sea anemone which can be seen in the tropical fish sea of Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, is the subject of this work. We hope that the beautiful Okinawa Sea will continue to be a paradise for fishes and that this work of art will bring about a concern for the protection of nature in all hearts. Finally, let us remember that the abundance of forests is what contributes to the beauty of our oceans.
The coexistence of clownfish and sea anemone which can be seen in the tropical fish sea of Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, is the subject of this work. We hope that the beautiful Okinawa Sea will continue to be a paradise for fishes and that this work of art will bring about a concern for the protection of nature in all hearts. Finally, let us remember that the abundance of forests is what contributes to the beauty of our oceans.
The clownfish lives with the anemone in a mutualistic relationship: they need each other to survive. The body of the fish has a mucus that protects it from the venom of the anemone as shelter. As for the anemone, it relies on the clownfish to defend it from predators.
Okinawa refers to both a large island, and an archipelago forming the southern portion of Japan.
Okinawa refers to both a large island, and an archipelago forming the southern portion of Japan.
"Of the more than 1,000 species of sea anemones, only 10 have a symbiotic relationship with the 26 species of tropical clownfish. ... They wave their tentacles in the water and employ nematocysts, harpoon-like stingers to capture prey. The anemones actually eat fish that they can paralyze and catch. ... But The clownfish will not try to eat the anemone. It will actually protect the anemone by chasing away predators and it also provides the anemone with nutrients in the form of waste secretion. ... Clownfish are often seen burrowing into the tentacles of the anemone. This helps them avoid predators but it also helps them maintain their protective mucus layer.
... These fish were found on a shallow Pacific reef that surrounded a small island near Fiji."
... These fish were found on a shallow Pacific reef that surrounded a small island near Fiji."
I enjoyed watching these two short videos with the clown fish and the Sea anemones:
36. Canada – Montreal – Nature in the city
Is it a lot of work to set up and maintain a garden? Not at all!
Gardening is discovering a new plant just germinating, admiring the first flowers of spring, spending the day outdoors doing exercise, smelling flowers, collecting a bouquet to please mom, listening to birdsong...
Gardening is also giving friends tours of your garden to share your favourites, to laze on the patio with your friends on a beautiful summer's evening, to sit in a comfortable chair to read or simply relax.
Gardening is re-discovering direct contact with the soil and observing and sharing the beauty it provides. Gardening is having fun!
Quebec's ornemental horticulture artisan grow high-quality plants and supply the right products to ensure that your garden delivers 100% pleasure.
Visit the website: Put a garden in your life:
Water droplets that fall on the ground allow seeds to germinate and produce plants that beautify the environment, providing pleasure for the eyes and happiness for the heart. Throughout their lifetime, plants capture carbon and release oxygen into the air. However, these beneficial environmental properties are surpassed by the loveliest gift that nature can offer: beauty.
Diversité et originalité des formes, vaste gamme de couleurs,
With their diversity and originality of shapes and their vast range of colours, flowers and leaves offer a wonderful, varied, beautiful, elegant, graceful, delightful, charming spectacle... and essential to the quality of life.
The Interdisciplinary Federation of Ornamental Horticulture works every day to facilitate the dissemination of the beauty of plants while protecting water, a resource that is so important.
The Interdisciplinary Federation of Ornamental Horticulture works every day to facilitate the dissemination of the beauty of plants while protecting water, a resource that is so important.
Go to: Watering while saving drinking water:
In the summer of 2022, for the first time, the Montreal International Mosaicultures exhibition will be in Quebec City, at Bois-de-Coulonge Park.
Mosaicultures - Mosaïcultures Internationales de Montréal
Mosaicultures - Mosaïcultures Internationales de Montréal
