Picnicking has always been a common way for people to get in contact with nature: a sort of reclamation of the natural environment for leisure. In the PICNIC project, it is nature that is claiming the territory. In the enclosure of the botanic garden - a man-made natural environment - nature is organized and put into place following a strict system. The PICNIC project brings a hint of disorder into a spot within this space by creating a situation where plants are taking over human activity. It is also a window to the rich diversity of plant species that naturally populate our daily urban environment. From the pictures below you can see how the PICNIC changes during the summer, how nature invades the structure little by little.
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The small picnic invades the organized garden environment with rough materials and wild plants. Picture: Lasse Ehrnrooth.
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May 2012: Concrete created a strong contrast to the surrounding garden environment. Picture: Polly Balitro.
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Seeds of wild plants were mixed to the soil so that nature would invade the cracks gradually. Picture: Polly Balitro.
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June 2012: The decay and invasion starts to work gradually. Picture: Polly Balitro.
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Picture: Lasse Ehrnrooth
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July 2012: Plants have started to invade the structure more efficiently. Picture: Essi Vehkanen
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Picture: Lasse Ehrnrooth
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Picture: Lasse Ehrnrooth
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Picture: Lasse Ehrnrooth
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| In October 2012 the idea of decay and plant invading started to work. Picture Lasse Ehrnrooth |
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| Picture Lasse Ehrnrooth |
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| The work was removed from the garden in October, but some parts continued their path to a private garden in Espoo. Picture Lasse Ehrnrooth |
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