The tropical climate of sweet orchids overpowers the chilly temperatures of the Bronx in March at the New York Botanical Garden’s latest exhibit.
“The Orchid Show: Mexican Modernism” in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory takes the viewer on a trip around the world with a variety of diverse orchid species, cacti and architecture found throughout Mexico. Upon entering the building, viewers are greeted by the strong sweetness of the flowers, transporting them into a warm and welcoming exhibit. The dozens of windows lining the walls and ceilings of the conservatory shine onto the flowers in brilliant rays, creating an experience that is more similar to a spring day in California than a winter afternoon in New York.
The first room, known as the Palm Dome, includes banana trees surrounding the circular space, sprouts of orchid plants, and a fountain with a wall of orchids inspired by the architect of the hour for this exhibit, Luis Barragán. This luminous pink fountain is inspired by the Mexican architect’s iconic 1960s installation, “The Lover’s Fountain,” from a landscaping project he did in Los Cubes, a residential enclave in Mexico City. This fountain was part of horse stables that he designed for the town, which was known for its equestrian roots, and this fountain is meant to resemble a horse trough, symbolizing one’s love for their partner as a parallel to a rider’s love for his horse.
To break up the blanket of leaves, different species of orchids popped out like pockets of color, contributing to this calm, serene space as mist stemmed from the tropical plants and their humid environment.
The English translation of Barragán’s words about the original fountain on a plaque in the Palm Dome reads “A fountain brings us peace, joy, and restful sensuality and reaches the epitome of its very essence when, by its power to bewitch, it will stir dreams of distant worlds.”
Viewers were quickly and easily transported from the Bronx to a sunny spring day in the first room of the exhibit, the second room threw viewers into an Amazon jungle just as fast, as if the doorway between rooms was a portal to different orchid-filled worlds. This room, in which viewers are guided to their left from the Palm Dome to enter, is best described as an orchid jungle, complete with tree branches wrapping around the ceiling to create an archway effect as patrons walk through the space. Informational plaques offered different facts about orchid care in between winding vines and leaves.
Beyond these boards, the ceilings and walls are shrouded in green, blocking out much of the sunlight that penetrated the Palm Dome. The two worlds were separate for viewers to enjoy as parts of the same show. To break up the blanket of leaves, different species of orchids popped out like pockets of color, contributing to this calm, serene space as mist stemmed from the tropical plants and their humid environment.
As viewers move through the exhibit, they pass through a sunroom with a fountain, many more orchids of various colors, and a lily pond, which was inspired by the motif of water in Barragán’s architecture. The sunroom featured benches along the window-covered walls where viewers are invited to rest for a moment and enjoy the peaceful pond before them and the archway of orchids above their heads. Past this room was another trip to the jungle, complete with a waterfall, a treehouse and slipper orchids that have a pouch of petals at the bottom of the flower, resembling their namesake.
After exiting the rainforest portion of the exhibit, viewers walk down a rainbow hallway that leads to a desert-themed area. This space was surprisingly cooler than the rainforest and featured cacti and spotted-colored window panes.
The last part of the exhibit was the most striking because it featured rows of arches covered in orchids and bright pastel colors, such as pink and purple, inspired by Barragán’s Casa Gilardi. This portion of the exhibit is a modernist house designed by the featured architect. The arches were arranged simply yet beautifully, curving about 15 feet above the ground and painted in bright, matte pastels. A jacaranda tree with blooming flowers was a centerpiece in the original home’s garden. To simulate the presence of this tree, there are bright blue trees curling around the corners of the arches as viewers walk through them. Wandering through this large circular room and the hallway that leads visitors toward the end of the show, viewers can imagine themselves at the original Casa Gilardi as they are surrounded by blue trees, fountains and dozens of orchids.
There is a sign that reads “Garden as Magic” as viewers stroll towards the exit — summarizing the experience of this stunning orchid show and the cultural significance of Barragán on modernist architecture in Mexico.
The Orchid Show will be on view until April 27. The New York Botanical Garden can be accessed easily across the street from Fordham’s Rose Hill campus and entry is free to Fordham students with a valid student ID.