Copy Garden of Growth

In the heart of Rotterdam’s urban fabric, a touch of Japanese serenity appeared in 2013. Copy Garden of Growth, designed by Monique Benthin and Rick Messemaker, brings balance, harmony, and natural beauty to Adrianaplein. The installation features a photographic impression of a Japanese garden, printed on vinyl and mounted on plywood, designed to evoke a sense of calm and connection with nature.

Measuring 6.6 by 11.2 meters and using the trompe-l’oeil technique, the artwork creates an optical illusion that makes it seem as though you could step straight into the garden. The image is more than decorative — it serves as a mental escape from the rush of city life and reflects on the importance of greenery, stillness, and beauty in public space.

Copy Garden of Growth was commissioned by the Municipality of Rotterdam and is part of a broader series of Copy Gardens, in which Benthin and Messemaker reintroduce elements of existing gardens into less appealing parts of the city. The result: poetic encounters with nature, precisely where you’d least expect them. Mothership developed the concept, oversaw the participation process, coordinated the project, and was responsible for its execution.