Torii Porta Giappone (Japanese Gate)
Just like Heller’s gate at the entrance to the garden, the “torii” signifies a departure from one world into another. The Heller Garden is a place where we encounter magnificent plants and flowers from across the world, showcasing nature’s vibrant tapestry. Nestled amongst the flora are some of the most thought-provoking sculptures that have been collected and curated over a number of years.
At each and every step in the garden the viewer is confronted with both natural and manmade beauty, and at times the artworks cause us to contemplate our own existence. By placing a “torii” in the garden, Heller establishes an association with Eastern cultures, and immediately ideas of a Buddhist zen are conjured up, creating a sense of tranquillity and calmness to the space.
Historically, a “torii” is a traditional Japanese gate that would be more commonly found at the entrance to a Buddhist Shinto shrine. The idea of such a gate is that it makes a marked distinction between the normal world and the sacred, from the everyday to the extraordinary. One could argue that everything in the Heller Garden is out of the ordinary, so the gate’s placement towards the edge of the garden does not distinguish one section as being more special than another; instead, it simply marks the whole place as a sacred one.
The bright vermillion colour of the “torii” contrasts perfectly with the bamboo plants that surround it. This deep red was understood in Japanese culture to have the power to ward off evil. Not only that but the red associates it with the colour of blood, our very life force that runs through our veins and unites each and everyone of us humans. This powerful colour is a symbol of vitality and strength, and whilst its origins lie in Buddhism, it is understood by people and cultures from every corner of the planet.
