THE JAPANESE GARDEN IN THE WEST

​Sunday 25 October 2026 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM (UTC+10)
THE JAPANESE GARDEN IN THE WEST
Presented by Amanda Herries
Venue: ANSunshineCoast: Lecture Theatre 1, K Block, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Dr, Sippy Downs

The serenity, asymmetry and control of a Japanese garden is a seductive contrast to Western symmetry, form and free growth. Even at the time of Japan’s self-imposed isolation, 1639-1854, information reached the West about trees, plants, flowers and designs through illustrations on imported porcelain, lacquer and screens. Once Japan opened up, travellers and plant-hunters were able to bring back information about the gardens, and the plants themselves. Japanese garden styles became highly fashionable into the 20th century, with several still identifiable. Tracing the origins of garden styles, the plants used and the surviving Western examples we can ask; is it possible to create a ‘Japanese’ garden outside Japan, or do we merely give it a Japanese voice?

Amanda Herries read Archaeology & Anthropology at Cambridge. 1978-1988 she was Curator at Museum of London specialising in the decorative arts 1714 to present day, exhibitions, lectures, booklets, broadcasts. 1988-1995 Amanda moved with family to Japan, lecturing and writing on Oriental / Western cross-cultural and artistic influences. 1995 she returned to UK, fundraising for arts companies, writing, lecturing and guiding tours to Japan and curating exhibitions. Most recent publications on Japanese plant and garden influences in the West and the life of Henry Raeburn, Scotland’s foremost portrait painter.