Art-i-choke – Niels Albers, 2025

Tuesday April 29th, 2025 Zoé Gambier

According to legend, the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Amiens was built on a field of artichokes donated by a medieval market gardener who cultivated the fertile soil of the Hortillonnages. In recognition of the gift, a statue of him was placed on the façade. However, the artichoke did not arrive in France until the late 15th or early 16th century whereas the cathedral was built between 1220 and 1269, making this legend an early case of “fake news.”

Niels Albers’ exhibit for the festival is inspired by the form of the artichoke, with its layered leaves mirrored in a contemplative structure. This exhibit is located on one of the smallest islands on Clermont Lake and invites visitors to reflect on the stories we tell, the importance of fact-checking and the evolving nature of culture.

The Hortillonnages looks wild but is entirely shaped by the human hand. This contrast between nature and cultivation is at the heart of this exhibit. Step onto the upper platform and consider: what is native, what is beauty, and how do we shape the world?

Informations & access

2025
By boat

Artwork

Hortillonnages International Garden Festival Amiens

Port à fumier

The artist

Niels Albers

Niels Albers is a Dutch artist based in Amsterdam. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy and a Master of Interior Architecture at the Sandberg Institute. Co-founder of the Fabulous Future collective, Niels Albers conducts research on the impact of all forms of life, particularly the human species, on the planet's ecosystem. Fascinated with origins, games, maps, and routes, his approach blends anthropocentric concerns with an architectural passion.