Jardín Topiario Painting

Subject: This painting depicts the Topiary Garden at the Generalife designed by Francisco Prieto Moreno and finished in 1951. It includes walls formed by trimmed cypress trees and a large cruciform pool inspired by Moorish gardens. Collection Description: This collection delves into our modern civilization's intricate connection with water, exploring Granada, Andalusia, a city intricately shaped by water. From the earliest Roman interventions on the Mediterranean coast to the refined Moorish advancements in water control infrastructure, the mastery of water emerges as an enduring theme in historical and contemporary urban development and social identity. Beyond utility, water became a symbol of power and prosperity. Possessing water and the technology to manipulate it became not only a status symbol but a playful, geometric expression of affluence. Development opportunities and control over land flowed from control over water, often concentrated in the hands of the affluent political class or the church. In the post-reconquista Carmen System, water control played a fundamental role in land division and ownership, giving rise to the distinctive landscape architecture that utilized the gradients of the hillside to maintain and distribute water efficiently. In our contemporary era grappling with climate change, this dialogue gains urgency. Rediscovering historical and vernacular methods of coexisting with water aligns with the imperative need for new ideas promoting sustainability and conservation. This exploration of Granada captures pivotal moments where water's role is etched into the city's history, offering profound reflections on the past, a lens for scrutinizing present challenges, and inspiration for shaping a sustainable future.