Renda Guaianás is an artistic experience made with permaculture to leave a mark in the park and in the minds of the inhabitants. It is inspired by the gardens of the 18th century French castles. The four parts of the work are made of 1150 crates which compose a mini vegetable garden of 8400 plants. Thus, each of the crates forms a pixel of this design that invaded the entire park Linear Guaratiba in its length.

The integration of the work into its environment was realized by Bia Goll, cook and permaculturist. The plants were prepared in the nearby community garden of Dona Helena. Realizing a project of this dimension with edible plants in a disadvantaged neighborhood, enabled to discuss issues such as healthy food, the place of humans in nature or the possibility of growing and recognizing edible plants.

One of the actions was to involve a local cook to make lunch every day: she proposed dishes based on fresh vegetables (and without packaging) which contrasts with the local food habits. The meals were offered to those who wished, and this has enabled homeless people to eat healthily. Overall, around 2400 meals were served.

Another action was to have educators every day to accompany in Renda Guaianás, with a varied program (recognizing plants, companion plants, natural dye, therapeutic herbs, etc.). They welcomed a large public and school groups that came daily to visit the project.

Finally, the project has allowed the park to be managed in a more environmentally friendly manner (composting, vegetable gardens, climbing plants on the gates). On September 25, 2022, they completed the project by donating the vegetable crates to the community.

Project details

Design: Jean Paul Ganem
Project Location: Parque Linear Guaratiba, R. Salvador Gianetti 305, Guaianases, São Paulo, Brazil
Typology: Environmental art, installation
Built: 2022
Permaculturalist and cook: Bia Goll

Jean Paul Ganem

Jean Paul Ganem

The artworks he develop are found where the artist has not been expected. He creates art in the landscape. For the past 30 years, he has explored different types of landscapes with different goals in mind, from a municipal landfills to agricultural fields in the countryside. It all started with farmers: imagining together, in their fields, works integrated into their production process. This approach implies a complete interaction with the farmer since all the parameters of the farm must be taken into account in order to allow the farmer to integrate the artwork into his production process and “harvest the artwork”. Furthermore, he works in degraded urban spaces. His work is expressed around the strengths and problems of the site and the people who live there. In all these projects, he seeks to highlight certain major elements of the landscape, notably its history, as in the Jardin des Fissures, which follows the layout of an old factory on the site that has now disappeared, or the Jardin des Capteurs, which draws attention to the gas sensors. His creations are on the scale of the landscape. The plants are the medium. They evolve and change over time. Moreover, the plant is a medium which touches all the public including the most detached of the contemporary art.