Touch
A work of art that you can touch, that you can walk through, in which you are even allowed to play! The world-renowned Jardin d’émail by Jean Dubuffet leaves an indelible impression on many visitors, young and old.
Different world
The artificial, walled ‘garden’ was designed specifically for the Kröller-Müller Museum. The contrast between the bright white with jagged black lines and the natural surroundings is particularly stark. Once inside this art garden, the visitors can imagine themselves in a completely different world
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Characteristic
The atmosphere of this monumental sculpture is characteristic for the work of Dubuffet. All his work expresses his fascination with the unusual, the spontaneous, the subconscious and the chaotic, which are typical for the paintings and drawings of children and the mentally ill. He calls these expressions that he admires, which are not regarded as official art, ‘art brut’.
Different opening hours for Jardin d’émail
Jardin d'émail is accessible from 1 April to 1 November, but only when the surface is completely dry. The work is closed for maintenance every last Monday of the month. It is also inaccessible during or shortly after rainfall, due to the risk of slipperiness.
Jardin d’émail received a full conservation treatment between 2016 and 2020. In order to keep the artwork in good condition for as long as possible, regular inspection, maintenance and cleaning is required. We do this every last Monday of the month. For example, the drains are cleaned and the entire work is washed and scrubbed with water. Afterwards, the work has to dry before it is safe for visitors again.
Explainer
With its white colour and black lines, Jardin d'émail stands out sharply against the surrounding nature. How many metres of black lines do you think there are in total? Find out in this video!
⚙️Do you prefer subtitles? Start the video and choose your language (Dutch/English/German).
