fata morgana - Jardins de Métis

Gu lf o f
St. La w r ence
FATA M O R G A N A
[along the St. Lawrence River]
sk y
mira g e
Mi scan th us
si n en si s
‘ Mo r n i n g L i g h t’
gro u n d
F ata Morgana is inspired by the optical phenomenon that creates a mirage of land
stretching above the horizon line of the St. Lawrence River. The garden is an abstraction
of this illusion, offering visitors the experience of inhabiting a mirage. A delicate structure
of polished aluminum panels reflect images of the garden and visitors above the ground
plane.
Visitors enter the garden through bands of grasses and reflective panels that evoke the
riparian environment along the River’s shoreline. Next, they approach a series of panels
with a sequential angle of rotation that playfully extend the ground’s image skyward and
reflect partial images of the plantings and visitors. In the heart of the garden, visitors
enter the mirage, a room with panels extending overhead creating an illusion of reflected
partial images of garden, sky and people appearing to float in the air. Visitors can modify
the composition and customize the illusion by sliding the panels along their wire support
structure.
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FATA M O R G A N A - 1
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s teel p o st
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s teel c a b le
a lum inum p a nel
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