Mark Dion

Grotto, Secret Garden, 2004

Mark Dion’s practice investigates the complex and ever evolving relationship between man and nature. Grotto, Secret Garden is connected to the Secret Garden Biological Field Unit art work. For this work, Dion built a site specific research laboratory in which a team of scientists and artists studied the plants and insects hidden in the garden next to the South London Gallery. Subsequently, using the traditional methods of hand illustration and photography, the team recorded and displayed their findings. In addition to this project, Dion devised for the SLG gallery space an elaborate multimedia installation that included live piranhas and the reconstruction of a pre-historic ‘fish-lizard’ skeleton. By taking inspiration from advanced contemporary museums and research laboratories, and the original empirical ‘wunderkammern’ (curiosity cabinets), Dion presents his full-bodied projects in an eclectic and engaging manner.