The inspiration behind this garden installation comes from the passing of 30 years since sponsor Woodie’s opened its first store in Ireland. It depicts a shift in mood across three zones: past, present and future. A photographic backdrop chronicles pivotal points in Ireland’s social and cultural evolution over the last 30 years, while a 20-metre-long steel rill abutting the backdrop symbolises a journey of continuity, fluidity and coherence and the natural unfolding of a newly assertive society, despite periodic difficulties. Each zone features a commissioned piece of ceramic sculpture. The past refers to religious fervour; the present depicts progressive secularism; while the future represents the omnipresent threat posed by climate change. Additionally, the planting of each zone seeks to reflect the trends and tastes of the period in question, the progression from ‘then’ to ‘now’, as well as a projection of the future.
Brian Burke
Landscape contractor and garden designer Brian Burke is no stranger to Bloom. In 2015 he was the winner of RTE Super Garden and also the recipient of a Silver-Gilt medal at Bloom for his garden ‘Non Forsit’. In 2016, Brian designed and built GOAL’s ‘Damascus Courtyard – War and Peace’ garden which was rebuilt at the Syrian Refugee Reception Centre in Co. Kildare. Last year, he designed and built ‘On Cloud CaNine’ for dog welfare charity, Dogs Trust. A graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, Brian has more than 20 years’ experience in the construction and landscaping industry in Ireland, the UK and the USA. He lives in Co. Laois with his wife Julia and their five children. (View Profile)
