#march: the piece de resistance - pictures at an exhibition! this is the one i am insufferably dressed for

[july-19th-club]

canny BELIEVE the philharmonic box office is closed weekends. i mean i guess to be expected, it's just erie pa, why wouldnt they be. but you get a 10% discount on your tickets if you call instead of doing it online and i have to wait until tomorrow morning im so impatient im SO ready to enter my fine arts era again

[kanski03]

         THE SIGNIFICANCE OF YELLOW.

There's a duality to yellow; it's a symbolically-rich oxymoron which, with its conflicting associations, fits Lara completely. Particularly in the 19th Century, yellow was associated with sickness, stigma, and cowardice in Western society, whilst adversely being a colour associated with value, spirituality, and heroism in the East. Interestingly, it would come to be associated with p.ornography in both Western and Eastern society.

In addition to its history, yellow’s ambivalent character as both attractive and repulsive is something that appealed to me in regards to Lara’s character, for it is in-tune with my portrayal of her character; whilst certainly beautiful, with a history of idealism and spirit, this beauty constantly is at-odds with the aspects of her personality that evoke repulsion; her violence, her temper, her blood-lust, and her undeniable greed.

To sum, the following are terms associated with the colour;

indecency. eroticism. literature. salome. spectacle. sarah bernhardt. stigma. reclamation. betrayal. repression. obsession. instability. entrapment. war. memorial. dynasty. wealth. knowledge. censorship. death. ancient. toxicity. poison. arsenic. rarity. art. incompatibility. striking. gold. eternal life. murder.

         YELLOW IN LITERATURE.

In 1895, when Oscar Wilde was arrested for 'gross indecency', he was seen to be carrying a French novel with a vivid yellow book which, at the time, would denote literature of an i.llicit and e.rotic nature. People misidentified the material to be The Yellow Book (a British quarterly literary periodical of the time that published the work of authors and artists such as Henry James, H.G Wells, William Butler Yeats, John Singer Sargent, and its first art editor, Aubrey Beardsley) and associated the publication with Wilde. The day after Wilde's arrest, people demonstrated in front of the publisher, and a flurry of media reports soon cemented an association between yellow paperbacks and homosexual content. Somewhat amusingly, Wilde had previously referred to The Yellow Book as 'dull' and 'not yellow at all' in an argument with Beardsley, whom he had once collaborated with for his play Salomé, first published in France. Less amusingly, Beardsley’s reputation was for a time so ruined by tabloid journalism after the arrest of Wilde that he and his sister were forced to vacate the house they shared.

On the subject of Salome, a play that rewrote the biblical figure of the New Testament, yellow plays a particular significance; though the colour is only mentioned seemingly in passing in the play in describing her veils, the Dance of the Seven Veils was infamous in its spectacle and, in contrast with recent depictions of Salome* (notably Rita Hayworth’s portrayal), Wilde reportedly stressed the importance of the dance being in monochrome yellow to the production's costume designer, W. Graham Robertson. Yellow’s importance can also be noted in the portrait of Salomé painted by Henri Regnault, Judith II (Salome) by Gustav Klimt, and Hans Makart’s portrait of the esteemed Sarah Bernhardt**, Wilde’s friend for whom the role Salome was written but by whom it would never be performed.

Makart, a Viennese painter, found his portrait of the ‘Divine Sarah’ was met with much criticism, however, due to its yellow appearance, and thus he withdrew it from an exhibition, an action that upset Bernhardt in a time of rife Antisemitism, thus sensitivity surrounding the figure of Salome. She formulated this response in a letter to Makart that showed her initial appreciation for the portrait, her disappointment in its removal and Makart’s shame for the piece: "Yellow on yellow was the colour of Henri Regault, the late master from Paris, when he painted his Salome   shouldn’t the famed Sarah not also be permitted to be yellow? [...] Yes, Mr. Makart, even though my statue has been rescued from the Ring Theatre fire, my portrait must now be driven away. And yet my head and arms are so beautifully made up, the gown, the table cloth, the embroidery, the palm fan, everything is so beautifully yellow. Take assurance that I, too, have become truly yellow from gall, because you, whom I held to be my friend, betrayed me, after you painted me in yellow.” Bernhardt knew of the stigmatising reputation of the colour at such a time, but it would seem she was interested in its reclamation and in showcasing the colour for its beauty; when she acquired the Paris theatre, then the Théâtre des Nations, she had the red plush and gilt replaced with yellow velvet and brocade and renamed it ‘Théâtre Sarah Bernhardt’. The theatre kept the name the Occupation of France by the Germans in World War II, when the name was sadly changed to Théâtre de la Cité because of Bernhardt's Jewish ancestry.

* I do use the figure of Salome as an inspiration in itself, though not from her Antisemitic depiction in the New Testament or as the seductress of Wilde’s play, but rather in how her reputation was created in itself; almost all our information about her derives from the writings of Josephus whom relied heavily on the works of Herod’s court historian Nicolaus of Damascus, and our picture of Salome is marred by the latter’s personal feud with her. Herod’s personal life was full of intrigue and violence, and Nicolaus used Salome as a decoy so as to divert the reader’s wrath at these deeds away from her brother. Thus she is described as being the instigator of all the ‘tragedies' that befell Herod, and it is only after Herod’s death that we learn why Nicolaus hated Salome: in the question of Herod’s will and Herod’s apparent heir, she supported the claim of Herod Antipas, while Nicolaus supported the pretensions of Archelaus, thus in a public hearing on the issue in Rome they were found on two opposing sides of the question. When he eventually wrote on Herodian history, he had still not forgiven Salome for this affront and thus made her into a monster. To me, she seems to be another victim of history being written by male victors.

** Sarah Bernhardt was a primary inspiration for both Lara’s grandmother, Lady Margot Peletier, and Lara herself. Ethnically Jewish, Bernhardt was the child of a wealthy Dutch Jewish courtesan, Judith Bernard. Her father payed for her education, under the proviso that she be baptised as Roman Catholic. However, she never forgot her Jewish heritage. When asked by a reporter if she were a Christian, she replied: "No, I'm a Roman Catholic, and a member of the great Jewish race. I'm waiting until Christians become better."

I have briefly mentioned before the significance of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper in my portrayal, though its relevance is primarily in regards to Lara’s mother, Lady Aemilia E. Croft, and her diagnosis of what was then referred to as ‘puerperal insanity’. Gilman’s story is one of repression and obsession, with the narrator so clearly struggling with her role as a woman of the time and her inability to be the mother that was expected of her, in society that advised women to stick to being mothers and wives and resist the temptation to over-exert themselves physically, creatively, and mentally. The Yellow Wallpaper is famous enough that I don’t think I need to write too much on it, but I would argue that the pairing of yellow and specifically female instability and female entrapment is a clear one, particularly in relation to Lara.  

         YELLOW IN TRADITION.

The famous song ‘She Wore a Yellow Ribbon’, a song that has existed in various forms for at least four centuries and was a popular U.S Army marching song, also bears plenty of relevance to my portrayal of Lara, based on the tradition of a yellow ribbon being associated with those waiting for the return of a loved one or of military troops who are temporarily unable to come home from war. Thus, yellow too is associated with memorial.

Though in China the term 'yellow', in regards to printed materials like books and images, too has more recently denoted p.ornography     and an association for prostitution in Hong Kong     the term '黃' being a colloquial for something that is 'p.ornographic' or 'l.ewd' *, it was once a colour favoured by Imperial Emperors. The beginning of the Tang dynasty, Emperor Gaozong expressly forbade others from wearing clothing in of 'reddish-yellow' (his purported reasoning being that it was the colour of THE SUN and, just as there cannot be two suns in the sky, there cannot be two emperors in a nation'), and further regulations on wearing the colour yellow would be set by following dynasties, particularly the Qing Dynasty. Royal palaces were also recognised by their yellow roofs.

* I won't pretend to be an expert on this because I definitely am not, but I do remember reading something about forbidden books of the early Mao era being hidden under yellow covers, so I'll conjecture that perhaps as being why (as well as globalisation) as, due to censorship, it remains a difficult topic to research.

In India, the colour is associated with the Hindu deity Krishna who, generally, is depicted wearing a vivid yellow robe to contrast with his blue skin. Additionally, it’s there often associated with knowledge and peace, arguably both similar or opposing to its usage in Ancient Egypt ... ;

         YELLOW IN DEATH.

... there, yellow was worn to signify the dead. In contrast, it has been widely purported that Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn wore yellow on receiving the news of Catherine of Aragon's death in a calculated insult to the memory of the woman Anne Boleyn had supplanted.

I based the colouring of my Google Doc and graphics on Orpiment, an inspiration that might be becoming a little more clear in my most recent promotional graphic, which is attested as another one of the reasons for yellow's negative associations. Orpiment was a pigment relied upon by artists from ancient times until the 19th century, in spite of its extreme toxicity and its incompatibility with other common lead- and copper-based pigments, due to clear and bright yellow pigments being in rare supply.

Orpiment had a hand in the infamous case of the Dutch serial killer Maria Swanenburg, once known locally as 'Goeie Mie' or 'Good Mie' when she cared for both children and the sick and elderly in the poor Leiden neighbourhood in which she lived, who murdered an confirmed number of 27 victims (though she is suspected of possibly having killed more than 90), including her own parents, with Orpiment arsenic between 1880-83.

Though commonly a golden colour, the mineral's streak (the colour of its powder when dragged across an un-weathered surface, which tends to be more consistent than a mineral's apparent colour due to various possible trace impurities) is closer to the pale lemon-yellow. It has notably been found on the walls of the Taj Mahal, as well as in the wall decor of Tutankhamen's tomb and ancient Egyptian scrolls.

Because of its visually striking colour, the mineral itself was of wide interest to alchemists throughout Europe and Asia when searching for a way to make gold and in their quest for eternal life     perhaps ironic, considering its poisonous nature. In a similar vein, it was used as a medicine for a time, in spite of its toxicity as an arsenic sulphide mineral. Perhaps more suitably, it too was used to tip poison arrows.

[aisicle]

I went to EGLX and Toronto’s gaming community blew me away

Last month I went to EGLX, or the Enthusiast Gaming Live Expo, which happened from March 9 to 11 at the International Centre in Mississauga. On their website, they claim to be Canada’s largest video game expo and their mission is to bring people together to be “united by gaming.”

Unfortunately, due to schedule restrictions (I’m looking at you, school), I was only able to attend EGLX on Saturday and Sunday – both of which were completely different and awesome experiences.

The four grand stages at EGLX for competitive games Hearthstone, Super Smash Bros. and a rotation of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, fighting games and Halo 5.

Saturday

On Saturday, I went alone to check out what EGLX had to offer, having never been there previously. Their website boosted highlights such as an indie games and virtual reality (VR) showcase, big name exhibitors and local artist corner, industry panels, competitive gaming, a cosplay lounge and even a nerf battle.

My first order of business was, of course, to take a picture with the mascot, Mr. Destructoid of game-focused media site Destructoid fame.

Would it be appropriate to make a Mr. Roboto pun here?

Once I entered the main hall, I was met with a larger than life version of Settlers of Catan, where guests were free to jump in and play as long as there was a free spot available. I was super tempted to make that my first stop, but Catan can potentially take hours and there was still so much more to see!

When I first arrived, the giant Catan board was currently open for play as the previous game had just ended, but I had to resist temptation!

Beyond the Catan booth, there were rows of VR games displayed. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to indulge in any of the games due to being a spectacled being, but that just means I need to remember to bring my contacts the next time there are VR booths involved at an event.

My favourite set up was one by VR Star Games for Furious Seas, a to be released pirate VR adventure that was displayed next to a palm tree, a realistic looking cannon and of course, a pile of treasure.

I wonder if you can find One Piece in this game. Any anime fans amongst my readers?

What blew me away the most and what I ended up spending the most time on with my trip to EGLX was the indie games corner, which featured primarily student-made games from Sheridan College’s gaming program. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to take any photos of the games themselves due to my excitement, but here’s a quick list of the ones I got to play and loved:

The Blobs Fight: The first game I tried was probably the most simple of all the games I was able to play, but also one of my favourite ones at EGLX! Developed by Skypyre Studios, the premise is exactly what you’d expect it to be: animated blobs fighting each other to the death. You can play up to eight (eight!!) customizable blobs at a time in different arenas, where you try to knock off pieces from other blobs until they become small enough to disappear so you can collect the pieces and become a mega blob or be the last one standing.

Head Rush: It took me a while to get that the game was literally about trying to affect the emotions of someone’s brain in an arcade style, time-trial game where you go really fast (head… rush… get it? Just me? Okay). Once I understood the concept, the rest of the gameplay flowed easily to me, though I still found the first level quite hard! The music is quirky and fits super well with the game design and I really loved the choice of colours! Sort of reminds me of the final level of Starfox, but just the first part of it and includes less impending doom. It’s developed by Jellyware Games, which you should definitely give a follow to!

Wanderfall: Developed by Grabby Thing Games, Wanderfall is a speed run sort of game – one where you glide smoothly along landscapes and jump across beautifully rendered ledges and hidden paths in order to collect as many crystals as you can. It was, unfortunately, also the game I struggled with the most because I’m definitely more of an “explore every nook and cranny” sort of gamer instead of a speed runner! Still, I enjoyed playing Wanderfall and did eventually play it again later on after they polished it up even more (though my friends laughed at me struggling to play it both times).

Godsend: Godsend, created by Patchwork Games, is a game that I find myself being able to play for hours. You play as a shapeshifter who is able to “shift your soul into other creatures,” therefore using their powers to accomplish the objectives and beat the level. But only being able to play a couple of minutes and try out a few of the many abilities and creatures that you could become simply wasn’t enough time! The backgrounds were gorgeous and I was really intrigued with the puzzles presented in this platformer, so I will be coming back to play this game (which you can download on Itch.io) in the future! Shoutouts to Coley who dealt with me dying a million times the first time I played.

Super Random Heroes and Bag Box: Both developed by OddBird Studios who has, since the writing of this blog, won both the pitch competition at EGLX as well as Best Game at Level Up Showcase, Super Random Heroes and Bag Box are two of their latest games after their flagship game, Arrow Heads (which I still need to play!), was released. Bag Box is a very simple two player game using just one controller – which is simply genius – where you try to knock out your rival in a boxing match and see who depletes the others’ health first. It’s very easy to pick up, has very clean and simple graphics and I definitely recommend giving it a download to play against a friend. I played against one of the developers and lost (I suspect some foul play) and I’m hoping for a rematch one day!

Following OddBird’s distinct style of clean, colourful and vibrant characters and stories, Super Random Heroes is the newest game that they’re working on featuring an angry pedestrian who ended up with super hero powers that he didn’t want and is now on a mission to get rid of them. In addition to having super hero powers, one of the game mechanics also lets you stack and modify the powers that you have in order to keep your play through unique and exciting. It’s a great, crazy twist on the usual brand of super hero video games and I can’t wait to play the full version when it’s complete!

Fossil Hunters: Lastly, let’s talk about Fossil Hunters by Reptoid Games. A fun solo or multiplayer game that has you playing quirky characters digging up bones and putting them back together while salamanders try to throw you off the platform, rocks fall down onto your party and you and your friends get separated by immovable boulders along the way. I actually kept running around the convention and coming back to this game multiple times, but every time I was there, it was preoccupied by other gamers who wanted in on the digging action. Once I got my hands on it, I loved it – I’m a huge sucker for a good puzzle game – and the art is so endearing! It’s currently out on Steam, but I’m waiting for that sweet Nintendo Switch release.

Sunday

Surprise! Can you guess which one I am? (Hint: I'm the green one.)

Here’s a surprise if you’ve made it this far: I cosplay! This convention isn’t my first rodeo, but it is my first video game exclusive convention. I had such a fun day meeting friends new and old yesterday, but wanted to use Sunday as a way to de-stress and talk to other cosplayers that I knew who were going to EGLX, as well as drag a few of my own friends into cosplaying Nintendo characters with me. The Nintendo booth had fun with us.

Conclusion

A vast majority of the exhibition hall occupied by the hum and lights of desktop computers running games such as Fortnite, PUBG, Rocket League, etc.

After doing some research, I was informed that this was EGLX’s second year running, but last year wasn’t their first. Apparently, EGLX premiered during 2016 with very little fanfare, so the organizers took the show backstage and polished it up so that it would receive the attention it deserved when it came back in 2018. That being said, the whole event was planned out and put together within about a month or so and while I had a great time there, there were a few things that I wondered about.

The schedule had a Nintendo event listed for Saturday that I spent a good 15 minutes looking for, but that no staff could tell me about.

While there were many excellent exhibitors displayed at the con, I wondered why some groups that I assumed would also be there, weren’t. Was it a matter of time or availability on both or part of the parties? Toronto Gaymers, one of the largest gaming groups in the city, as well as George Brown and other colleges with prominent game development programs seemed to be absent.

There was a thing? I’m not too sure. And I wonder if it was worth bringing up on the Twitter page.

The advertising for the event seemed very much for the general public, but the only ones who seemed to really use their time to the fullest or had a voice at the convention seemed to be those involved in the game industry.

The division of the space inside the exhibition hall was extremely varied. Competitive gaming had the largest space, with everything else having just enough in order to function by, but it usually ended up crowded.

Though there were a decent amount of cosplay guests, I noticed most cosplayers stuck to the cosplay lounge, which was a small square in the middle of the exhibition hall and was generally overcrowded. I wonder if it would have been better to combine the cosplay lounge with the board game/rest area that was set up next to the registration hall instead.

The website sometimes had different pages with different information on it, making it difficult to find the information you needed depending on what page you were on at the time.

Don’t get me wrong – I had a blast! And I’m so excited to go again next year. It was amazing to see some very big triple A game companies next to smaller studios and all the different ways that so many different people play games.

So, whether it is for competitive reasons, friends and family, solo, or even VR and board games – EGLX had a little bit of everything for everyone and I can’t wait to see what they have planned next year!

[caroleditosti]

Vandas, Bromeliads, NYBG’s ‘Orchid Show: Thailand’ (photo Carole Di Tosti)

Every year I attend the NYBG Orchid Show (now in its 15th year) I am pleasantly surprised to note that the exhibits are increasingly more intricate and more lovely. This year Orchid Show: Thailand is absolutely smashing. It runs until 9 April. The team of professionals, staff, volunteers and others whose creativity, prodigious effort and great good will in executing the drama of a beautiful, living production of one of the most exquisite and exotic of plant species, has outdone itself.

Dendrobrium, NYBG ‘Orchid Show: Thailand’ (photo Carole Di Tosti)

Karen Daubmann (AVP of Exhibitions and Public Engagement at NYBG) originated the theme Thailand which she had been considering for a number of years. She is thrilled with Christian Primeau’s (Designer of Orchid Show: Thailand) and March Hachadourian’s (Director of the Nolen Greenhouses who curates the show) culminating work to create this striking exhibit. Christian and Marc collaborated to select the orchids and then came up with the unique and inspired interpretations and symbolic representations that are NYBG’s Orchid Show: Thailand.

A riot of orchid varieties on the walkway at NYBG ‘The Orchid Show: Thailand’ (photo Carole Di Tosti)

It has been a while since the staff and experts conceptualized a geographical theme for the NYBG orchid show. Thailand was an excellent fit. For uber orchid experts, Thailand is synonymous with orchids. Thailand has been in the forefront of orchid horticulture in the cultivation and hybridization of orchids and in the expansion and promotion of orchid farming for more than a century. It is the biggest exporter of tropical orchids globally and if you ask an expert, he or she will tell you that whether native or hybrid, orchids are mostly associated with Thailand.

Dendrobium, NYBG’s ‘The Orchid Show: Thailand’ (photo Carole Di Tosti)

The Thai people lionize orchids because they flourish in the companionable climate. They add explosions of vibrant, joyful color amidst the lush, green tropical foliage and they contribute handily to the GNP. Thai horticulturalists have been able to propagate a great variety of hybrids which have become ready plantings in Thai gardens adding tranquility and loveliness to promote well being. Their admiration of exotic tropical plants, the orchids’ wide variety of sizes, shapes and hues have prompted Thais to grow them on trees that line public streets.

Phaeleanopsis (moth orchids) at the 15th Annual NYBG’s ‘Orchid Show: Thailand’ (photo Carole Di Tosti

Another reason why the country “fell” into orchid breeding and pursued it with diligence is because Thailand is the birth place and residence of 12oo known native species. Of course, there may be some native species yet to be discovered in Thailand; one can be sure botanists and orchid horticulturalists are on the hunt for them.

Phaelaenopsis, Bromeliads, Palms, Oncidium on the walkway NYBG ‘Orchid Show: Thailand’ (photo Carole Di Tosti)

To realize Karen’s theme the NYBG team researched the integration of orchids in Thai culture. They explored how to incorporate particular elements of Thai social and religious structure into the exhibit. They made sure to honor symbols and traditions that the Thai people venerate, adhering to them assiduously throughout the show; that was Christian’s particular passion. Combining these features and designing them into the backdrop of the veritable kaleidoscope of the orchids themselves, has made this show a number one pick to revisit time and again to renew one’s spirit and be soothed by the phantasmagoria of beauty that bathes the senses as you saunter through the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.

Elephant topiaries carrying orchids in the Palms of the World Gallery and reflecting pool, NYBG’s ‘Orchid Show: Thailand’ (photo Carole Di Tosti)

After seeing the show once or twice, you get it! Upon entering the Palms of the World Gallery at the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, one’s perspective and emotions immediately shift. You are in a subtropical, lush, other worldly habitat where the plants are happily riotous. Centered in the reflecting pool which echoes the vibrant pageantry above and below in mirror images, the elaborately hued hybrids, the Phalaenopsis (moth orchids), Dendrobriums (hard cane, soft cane), pansy orchids, Oncidiums (dancing lady orchids) Paphiopedilum (lady slippers) and Vandas luxuriate. Water reflections in the Palm Gallery’s pool reverberate the striking color palate of orchid hybrids which Christian and Marc  selected to exemplify the Thai people’s preferences for amazing rainbows of color.

Upside down reflection of Phaelaenopsis, Palms of the World Gallery, NYBG’s ‘Orchid Show: Thailand’ (photo Carole Di Tosti)

Also in the Palm Gallery are noted the Thai cultural elements that thread throughout the other galleries that comprise The Orchid Show: Thailand: water, elephants and noted varieties of orchids specially featured as Thai favorites (Vandas, Dendrobiums, Paphiopedilum). The reflecting pool is reminiscent of the Thai’s evocation of tranquility and serenity in their gardens which often sport small pools, ponds, waterfalls. The elephant topiaries carrying orchids indicate their veneration of the Thai elephant, chang thai. It is their national symbol. Thai elephants have been used for centuries as a means of transport and a laboring force. Chang thai’s picture is in on the emblems of many of Thailand’s provinces.

Palms of the World Gallery, NYBG ‘Orchid Show: Thailand’ (photo Carole Di Tosti

As you move around the Palms of the World Gallery and saunter into the walkway of the conservatory toward the piece de resistance, the 360 degree centerpiece heart of the exhibit, you will see elements of the Thai culture represented in the design features of the exhibit and in symbols throughout. To become aware of them, it will take close scrutiny. These design elements include bamboo sectionals and dividers-pieces of bamboo filled with moss. There are amazing dendrobium plantings in water jars, small topiaries which are a tribute to mai dat, the ancient Thai craftsmanship of clipping trees/shrubs into fanciful shapes. There are hanging Thai sky lanterns and hand carved teak spirit houses.

Elephant topiary (detail) carrying Phaelaenopsis orchids, Palms of the World Gallery, NYBG ‘Orchid Show: Thailand’ (photo Carole Di Tosti)

If you have time you will note placards with information about lucky numbers and the sky lanterns. Numbers are very important symbols for Thais. They believe in lucky numbers: numbers divisible by three, odd numbers, the lucky number 3 and the penultimate lucky number 9. But the number 13 is bad news. You will never find it in Thailand which is similar to our rejection of the thirteenth floor in hotels across the nation.

Sky Lanterns, (khom loi) Oncidium, Pitcher Plants  NYBG’s ‘Orchid Show: Thailand’ (photo Carole Di Tosti)

At the beginning of the walkway after you leave the Palms of the World Gallery, look up. You will see the sky lanterns (khom loi). If you count their number it will total nine. Thais use khom loi during festivals and important occasions. These offer a soft, glowing, halo effect in the evenings; you’ve seen the sky lantern festival photos where folks light the lanterns, and like tiny hot air balloons, they rise over water. These lanterns will be lit during Orchid Evenings to create an enchanting effect. There are different sky lanterns farther on in the 360 degree centerpiece gallery which also number nine and which will be lit for Orchid Evenings. There is no preventing the good luck which is manifest everywhere in this orchid show.

Thai Spirit Houses of hand carved teak by Thai artist, Pirot Gitikoon with offerings at NYBG ‘Orchid Show: Thailand’ (photo Carole Di Tosti

Integral to that insurance of good luck in Orchid Show: Thailand are the teak spirit houses hand carved by Thai artist Pirot Gitikoon, near the grand centerpiece. Spirit houses are traditional in Thailand and represent a merging of religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Chinese ancestor worship and ancient Thai spirit worship or phra phum which is widespread.

Hand carved teak Thai Spirit Houses with offerings, NYBG, ‘Orchid Show: Thailand’ (photo Carole Di Tosti)

Spirit houses appear in places of business and homes. It is believed spirits live in these houses made for them to guard against disaster: floods, typhoons, storms, catastrophe, etc. The spirit houses at the NYBG are hand carved with dragon elements: dragons symbolize wisdom, power and protection. Offerings of food, fruit, candies, cans of Fanta soda, exotic ceramic dancers, ceramic elephants are on a platform in front of the spirit house. They are there to lure the spirits to feel at home. These offerings include everything a spirit would need to live in the house, be entertained, eat, have transportation and protect the environs.

Thai sala with elephant topiary and a riot of orchids, NYBG ‘Orchid Show: Thailand’ (photo Carole Di Tosti)

At this point in your journey, you have come upon the 360 grand centerpiece. It is a  sala inspired by a structure created by Thai architect Mom Tri. Salas are pavilions which are incorporated into temple complexes and public places. They are used for relaxation, rest for weary travelers, meeting places, etc.

Thai sala, NYBG ‘Orchid Show: Thailand’ (photo Carole Di Tosti

The NYBG sala and circular staging environs are adorned with all of the orchid varieties we’ve seen throughout the show arranged into a spectacular finale. The water element is present in a reflecting pool, the elephant topiaries carry white Phalaenopsis and fabulously hued Dendrobium. Paphiopedilum cling to moss on rocks in the pool. Mammoth Bromeliads frame the pool with ferns, palms and other foliage. Mega plantings of fabulous Phalaenopsis frame either side of the sala, while in the back spanish moss drips and pansy orchids greet those who peek behind the structure. Exceptional living theater.

Thai sala, NYBG ‘Orchid Show: Thailand’ (photo Carole Di Tosti)

Above are two pictures of the Thai sala from a different perspective, one a close-up

Paphiopedilum and watery reflections of Phalaenopsis at the Thai sala, NYBG ‘Orchid Show: Thailand’ (photo Carole Di Tosti)

Serenity pool with Phalaenopsis petals and Paphiopedilum (lady slippers) near the sala, NYBG ‘Orchid Show: Thailand’ (photo Carole Di Tosti)

I took hundreds of photos capturing some of the thousands of orchids and found it difficult to wrap my mind around the prodigious effort it takes to choose the orchid show theme, plan the design, effect appropriate research, decide upon the plants, strike the previous show (Christmas train show) grade and prepare the ground, select the plants, arrange the design settings, then plant each orchid for this extravaganza which Christian mentioned took around nine (lucky number) months to plan and put together. The more I visit, the more I begin to understand what such a horticultural production, which March Hachadourian likens to a theatrical spectacle, entails. Can you imagine the behind-the-scenes drama to create this panoramic phenomenal display?

Karen Daubmann, AVP of Exhibitions and Public Engagement, NYBG, ‘Orchid Show: Thailand’ speaking to press at the Palms of the World Gallery (photo Carole Di Tosti)

Marc Hachadourian (Director of the Nolen Greenhouses, curates the exhibit’s orchid selection) NYBG, ‘Orchid Show: Thailand’ (photo Carole Di Tosti)

Christian Primeau by the Thai sala, Designer of the ‘Orchid Show: Thailand’ (photo Carole Di Tosti)

The Orchid Show: Thailand must not be missed. One should especially come back for orchid evenings. Christian mentioned that the night before the show opened to the press, he was in the conservatory surveying the final results. The lanterns were lit, it was peaceful, tranquil and absolutely “magical,” a term he said he doesn’t use lightly. I believe it.

The photo above is the duality of reflections in a pool where up is down and the Phalaenopsis mirrors itself as the light and color bounces off the water.

I am definitely going back in the evening when the Garden is at its most ethereal and “magical.”  An Orchid Evening is coming up this Saturday, 4 March. Orchid Evenings are Saturdays: March 4, 11, 18, 25; April 1 and 8. Fridays: March 31 (LGBT night) and 7 April.

Dendrobium, NYBG ‘Orchid Show: Thailand’ (photo Carole Di Tosti)

The Thailand theme will be expressed everywhere in the Garden to enhance the exhibition.In addition to Orchid Evenings, there will be Film Screenings (Ross Hall) Dance Performances by the Somapa Thai Dance Company (Ross Hall or seasonally in Conservatory Plaza) Orchid Show Tours, Orchid Care Demonstrations and Orchid Expert Q & As. In the NYBG Garden Shop there is themed merchandise and a sea of orchids to purchase with an expert on hand to guide you. Phalaenopsis is easiest to grow with recurrent blooms.

The Orchid Show: Thailand runs until 9 April. For additional events and programming, CLICK HERE.

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New York Botanical Garden ‘Orchid Show: Thailand’ a Feast for the Senses and the Soul Every year I attend the NYBG Orchid Show (now in its 15th year) I am pleasantly surprised to note that the exhibits are increasingly more intricate and more lovely.