ART BEATUS GALLERY

M1-888 NELSON STREET, VANCOUVER, BC  V6Z 2H1 CANADA  Tel:  604/688.2633   Fax:  604/688.2685   E-mail:  info@artbeatus.com

For Immediate Release

Principles of Garden Design

Reception, Slide Show/Artist Talk, and Autographing Session with Po-Chu Lee

July 19, 2002, from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm

Art Beātus Gallery is pleased to be hosting an exclusive event introducing Po-Chu Lee and her delightfully innovative book entitled Principles of Garden Design.  The reception begins at 5:30 pm on Friday, July 19, 2002 and ends at 8:00 pm; the slide show which is based on the book begins at 6:00 pm.  The artist talk will be presented in English, but comments or questions in multicultural languages are welcomed.  Po-Chu Lee will explain the taoism of the yin-yang philosophy and how it effects, but also complements garden design.

Principles of Garden Design leads us into the world of traditional Chinese garden parks and the application of the four principles of design.  Essentially comprised of three parts, the first part of the book identifies the four fundamental design principles employed in the development of the traditional Chinese gardens in China (1) The application of the Yin-Yang philosophy (2) The expression of a theme which represents the soul (3) The development of a variety of visual imagery – finding a different vista at every turn (4) The creation of space through illusion – making the small evoke the large.  The second part of the book demonstrates how these principles are used upon close examination of a classical garden in Suzhou, China.  The last part shows how the author takes the essence of the first two segments and imparts it into a design proposal of a contemporary Chinese garden in Winnipeg, Canada.

Adorning the pages of this publication are colourful paintings of Chinese gardens, locations, maps, and concepts for the proposal of the contemporary Chinese garden in Winnipeg.  Beautiful handwritten calligraphy illuminates the prose and poetry also included in her book.  It should be noted that all illustrations and calligraphy were done by the author, herself.  With its clean and elegant design, the cover clearly demonstrates ‘less is more’, and upon opening the book, the reader is presented with the essence and understanding of the yin-yang philosophy and its effects on garden design.

The yin-yang principle is not contradictory at all as it is nature itself.  It terms of design,

it can be simply interpreted as the rule of contrasts.  The harmony is achieved when

yin and yang are in balance:  as one increases, the other decreases.  When two forces

act in  opposite directions, there lies the secret of all creation.

Lee was born and raised in Hong Kong, but upon graduation from high school, went to Canada to study music  and received her Bachelor degree in Music at the University of Manitoba.  Her interest in architecture led her to attain three Master degrees in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and City Planning.  Her background in music plays a large role in her work, bringing harmony to landscaping, innovative architecture, and creative interior design.  Her public lectures such as “Garden in Spirit” at the the VanDusen Garden, “Small Is Total” at the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Garden, “Space” at UBC, and interviews on local radio were well received.  Po-Chu believes, “A good piece of music has a structure you can see.  A good piece of architecture is something you can sing with.”

Art Beātus, with galleries in Vancouver, Canada and Hong Kong, showcasing international arts with a focus on contemporary Chinese art.  The Vancouver Art Beātus Gallery is located on the upper plaza at 888 Nelson Street.

Reception:                             July 19, 2002 Friday ■ 5:30 till 8 pm

SlideShow/Artist Talk:         July 19, 2002 Friday ■ 6 pm ■ parking provided @ 808 Nelson Street

Gallery Hours:                      Tuesday – Saturday ■ 10am till 6pm

Location:                               M1 – 888 Nelson Street, Vancouver, B.C.

Contact:                                 Media Relations                                                  Tamla Mah / Dominic Chan

                                                Tel. 604.688.2633                                               Fax. 604.688.2685             

info@artbeatus.com                                           http://www.artbeatus.com

Please use this information in any of your press-release/announcement material.   Visual material is available upon request. Chinese version is available

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