Giardino Botanico Fondazione André Heller

The André Heller Botanical Garden in Gardone Riviera brings a diverse living collection into dialogue with sculpture. Waterways, bamboo and changing planted settings form a landscape in which works of art emerge among the greenery.

Why it matters

The garden combines two creative histories: Hruska's interest in plants and recreated habitats, and André Heller's later introduction of contemporary art. It is both a botanical environment and an evolving artistic composition.

What to notice

Small lakes and streams link contrasting areas of planting, from rocky alpine settings to lush vegetation. The sculpture collection includes Keith Haring's Totem, Auguste Rodin's The Inner Voice and Niki de Saint Phalle's colourful Adam and Eve. Seo Young Deok's Anguish 303 uses welded chains to create a human figure, adding a striking material contrast to the surrounding plants.

Context and history

The garden began in the early twentieth century through Hruska's botanical work. Heller acquired the house and garden in 1988 and developed their relationship with art, inviting artists to respond to the site. The result layers a history of plant collecting with later sculptural and theatrical interventions.