The Tarot Garden (Giardino Dei Tarocchi) is an exploration of the human condition whose medium is mosaic on a monumental scale. These almost impossibly brightly coloured combinations of buildings and sculpture reflect the metaphysical qualities represented by the 22 main tarot cards (the major arcana). They're not concerned with the fortune-telling uses of the cards, rather the elements of life's experience, personality and self-knowledge they refer to. Work on the garden began in 1979 and the main part of the work was carried out in the 1980s; it was officially opened to the public in May 1998. During construction Niki de Saint Phalle lived in the sphinx-like Empress, a mirror-glassed cavern with kitchen, bedroom and bathroom leading off.
The 5 cards in this photo, as described by Niki de Saint Phalle, are:
The High Priestess, card no 3.
The High Priestess of intuitive feminine power (on the left). This feminine intuition is one of the "keys" of wisdom. She represents the irrational unconscious with all its potential. Those who wish to explain events by reason or logic alone remain on the surface of things without the depth of instinctual vision and imagination.
The Magician, card no. 2.
The Magician (card no. 2., above the High Priestess), the great trickster, For me, the Magician is the card of God the creator of the universe. It is he that created the marvelous joke of our paradoxical world. It is the card of active intelligence. Pure light, pure energy, mischief and creation.
The Hierophant, card no. 5.
The Hierophant is in the background in the middle. Through this card one acquires knowledge of a sacred nature. He represents for some a teacher, a guru, a prophet or a Pope. The Hierophant deciphers mysteries. It may be a book, a shaman, a rabbi or a holy man or woman.
The Sun, card no. 19.
The Sun (card no. 19, on the right) is a life force. It makes everything grow. A divinity that can lift our spirits. I have conceived of the sun as a bird like those found in American Indian and Mexican legends. The bird is the creature closest to the sun.
The Wheel of Fortune, card no. 10. is at the back of the pool in the middle.
Niki de Saint Phalle
Tags: the high priestess la papessa la papesse the wheel of fortune blu tarot garden de saint sculpture art italy tuscany mosaic niki phalle Europe European artist french italien kunst Italia toscana Francaise colour colourful film films movie movies projector blue surreal surrealist surrealism europa sculptur phoenix Il Giardino de Tarocchi Le Jardin de Tarots the Hierophant la soleil the sun sun Pescia Fiorentina Garavicchio card cards occult magician mirror mirrors masculine feminine juxtaposition opposite serpent snake Major Arcana Arcana holiday holidays
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Part of the Tarot Garden by Niki de Saint Phalle, Tuscany, Italy
The Tarot Garden (Giardino Dei Tarocchi) is an exploration of the human condition whose medium is mosaic on a monumental scale. These almost impossibly brightly coloured combinations of buildings and sculpture reflect the metaphysical qualities represented by the 22 main tarot cards (the major arcana). They're not concerned with the fortune-telling uses of the cards, rather the elements of life's experience, personality and self-knowledge they refer to. Work on the garden began in 1979 and the main part of the work was carried out in the 1980s; it was officially opened to the public in May 1998. During construction Niki de Saint Phalle lived in the sphinx-like Empress, a mirror-glassed cavern with kitchen, bedroom and bathroom leading off.
There are 3 cards in this photo.
The High Priestess of intuitive feminine power (card no 3., on the left). This feminine intuition is one of the "keys" of wisdom. She represents the irrational unconscious with all its potential. Those who wish to explain events by reason or logic alone remain on the surface of things without the depth of instinctual vision and imagination.
The Magician (card no. 2., above the High Priestess), the great trickster, For me, the Magician is the card of God the creator of the universe. It is he that created the marvelous joke of our paradoxical world. It is the card of active intelligence. Pure light, pure energy, mischief and creation.
The Wheel of Fortune in the foreground, card no. 10.
Niki de Saint Phalle
Tags: the high priestess la papessa la papesse the wheel of fortune tarot garden de saint sculpture art italy tuscany mosaic niki phalle Europe European artist french italien kunst Italia toscana Francaise niki de saint phalle the tarot garden colour colourful film films movie movies projector blue surreal surrealist surrealism europa sculptur Il Giardino de Tarocchi Le Jardin de Tarots Pescia Fiorentina Garavicchio card cards occult magician mirror mirrors masculine feminine juxtaposition opposite serpent snake Major Arcana Arcana holiday holidays il mago le magicien
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Part of the Tarot Garden by Niki de Saint Phalle, Tuscany, Italy
The Tarot Garden (Giardino Dei Tarocchi) is an exploration of the human condition whose medium is mosaic on a monumental scale. These almost impossibly brightly coloured combinations of buildings and sculpture reflect the metaphysical qualities represented by the 22 main tarot cards (the major arcana). They're not concerned with the fortune-telling uses of the cards, rather the elements of life's experience, personality and self-knowledge they refer to. Work on the garden began in 1979 and the main part of the work was carried out in the 1980s; it was officially opened to the public in May 1998. During construction Niki de Saint Phalle lived in the sphinx-like Empress, a mirror-glassed cavern with kitchen, bedroom and bathroom leading off.
The Moon, card no. 18.
The Moon is the card of creative imagination and negative illusion, The moon is an interior card-mysterious, enigmatic. The moon affects the tides of the seas, the menstruation of women, childbirth, and all things connected to the ebb and flow of writer. The card of the moon can be perilous or offer great imaginative power.
Niki de Saint Phalle
Tags: blu tarot garden de saint sculpture art italy tuscany mosaic niki phalle Europe European artist french italien kunst Italia toscana Francaise colour colourful blue surreal surrealist surrealism europa sculptur face Niki de Saint Phalle Il Giardino de Tarocchi Le Jardin de Tarots moon lunar luna la Pescia Fiorentina Garavicchio lobster crayfish card cards occult cow Major Arcana Arcana holiday holidays la Luna la Lune
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Part of the Tarot Garden by Niki de Saint Phalle, Tuscany, Italy
The Tarot Garden (Giardino Dei Tarocchi) is an exploration of the human condition whose medium is mosaic on a monumental scale. These almost impossibly brightly coloured combinations of buildings and sculpture reflect the metaphysical qualities represented by the 22 main tarot cards (the major arcana). They're not concerned with the fortune-telling uses of the cards, rather the elements of life's experience, personality and self-knowledge they refer to. Work on the garden began in 1979 and the main part of the work was carried out in the 1980s; it was officially opened to the public in May 1998. During construction Niki de Saint Phalle lived in the sphinx-like Empress, a mirror-glassed cavern with kitchen, bedroom and bathroom leading off.
The Emperor, card no. 4.
The Emperor is the card of masculine power, for good or for bad. The Emperor is a symbol of organization and aggression. He has brought us science and medicine but also weapons and war. He represents the Patriarch or male protector. He also desires to control and conquer.
Niki de Saint Phalle
Tags: blu tarot garden de saint sculpture art italy tuscany mosaic niki phalle Europe European artist french italien kunst Italia toscana Francaise colour colourful blue surreal surrealist surrealism europa sculptur candy fairy tale Niki de Saint Phalle Il Giardino de Tarocchi Le Jardin de Tarots The Emperor Pescia Fiorentina Garavicchio card cards occult patriarchy patriarch pagoda tower transcendence red fragment fragmented power masculine Major Arcana Arcana holiday holidays
© All Rights Reserved
Part of the Tarot Garden by Niki de Saint Phalle, Tuscany, Italy
The Tarot Garden (Giardino Dei Tarocchi) is an exploration of the human condition whose medium is mosaic on a monumental scale. These almost impossibly brightly coloured combinations of buildings and sculpture reflect the metaphysical qualities represented by the 22 main tarot cards (the major arcana). They're not concerned with the fortune-telling uses of the cards, rather the elements of life's experience, personality and self-knowledge they refer to. Work on the garden began in 1979 and the main part of the work was carried out in the 1980s; it was officially opened to the public in May 1998. During construction Niki de Saint Phalle lived in the sphinx-like Empress, a mirror-glassed cavern with kitchen, bedroom and bathroom leading off.
Justice, card no. 8.
Justice implies self knowledge. One needs to acquire an ability to judge oneself, to come to terms with our dark side. With this insight one can judge other people and situations with a compassionate eye. Real justice is not blind, it brings a vision of universality.
Niki de Saint Phalle
Tags: blu tarot garden de saint sculpture art italy tuscany mosaic niki phalle Europe European artist french italien kunst Italia toscana Francaise colour colourful blue surreal surrealist surrealism europa sculptur face Il Giardino de Tarocchi Le Jardin de Tarots la Pescia Fiorentina Garavicchio card cards occult Niki de Saint Phalle just justice scales judge judgement black white balance Major Arcana Arcana holiday holidays la giustizia la justice
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