(PDF) (DOC) (JPG)March 9, 2005

(Mahwah) – Ramapo Garden of Desire,” a sculpture installation by renowned Asian-American artist Ming Fay featuring floor-to-ceiling sculptures, will be exhibited in the Kresge Gallery on the campus of Ramapo College of New Jersey beginning Friday, April 1 and continuing through May 6. A reception and artist’s talk is scheduled from 5 – 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6.

Ramapo Garden of Desire” is a site specific installation inspired by the space of the Kresge Gallery. Upon visiting the gallery,” said Fay, I saw a possibility for a dense jungle-like installation of sculptures suspended from the high ceiling.” The installation consists primarily of Monkey Pots, an Amazon jungle plant which was transplanted to other tropical regions. The name of the tree refers to its pot-like shape that holds seeds so enticing to monkeys, that their heads often become stuck in the plants as they try to obtain the seeds. I was very inspired by this metaphor and have created my own version of the Monkey Pot as a symbol for humans who are caught by their own desires. The layers of brightly colored foam of my Monkey Pots are reminiscent of the mutated forms of science fiction films and laboratory experiments gone astray.”

Fay believes the creation of gardens is an elaborate display of human control over its surroundings. Gardens are also a reflection of paradise,” says the artist, the location for the ultimate desirable state of being.” In Ramapo Garden of Desire,” Monkey Pots, Money Trees, Gwa Flowers and Butterfly Twigs grow and flourish in an allegorical installation of nature’s bounty and the never-ending human desire to acquire and consume.

The sculptor’s work often represents things found in nature such as pears, seeds and fruits that embody some ancient Chinese belief based on Taoism. My work is based on the botanical world and its relationship to humans,” Fay said. Much like a scientist, I research and cultivate specific plant forms for their inherent and symbolic qualities, reinterpreting and reinventing them in my studio/laboratory greenhouse.” He draws upon both Eastern and Western philosophies to pose questions about the complex and often ambiguous relationship between humans and nature.

The sculptor is a professor of art at William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ. Recent solo exhibitions include Montalvo Gallery, Saratoga, CA; Cuchifritos, New York, NY; and Copia, Napa, CA in addition to prior shows at Whitney Museum at Philip Morris, Exit Art and the Alternative Museum, all in New York City. Newly installed public art commissions include the Delancey Street MTA mosaic tile mural, Staten Island Ferry Terminal granite benches, Seattle Courthouse outdoor sculpture, Yauco plaza magic tree sculpture in Puerto Rico and the Portland Oregon Convention Center.

The Kresge Gallery is located in the Berrie Center for the Performing and Visual Arts at Ramapo College. Gallery hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 1 to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, 1 to 7 p.m. For more information, call 201.684.7147.

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About Ramapo College

Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state’s premier public liberal arts college and is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. The comprehensive college is situated among the beautiful Ramapo Mountains, is within commuting distance to New York City, was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America by CondeNast Traveler, and boasts the best on-campus housing in New Jersey per Niche.com. Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, data science, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include business, education, nursing and social work. In addition, the College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels, and offers graduate programs leading to master’s degrees in Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Contemporary Instructional Design, Computer Science, Creative Music Technology, Data Science, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work and Special Education, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

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