Zen and the art of building a garden – with Åsmund Bergwitz

In 2013, a Japanese Garden, a Zen garden, was created at Drammens Museum. Many people use it extensively to breathe, watch the seasons change and get a little break from the noise of everyday life. But how do you design a Japanese garden? And why? What do the different elements mean?

The Zen garden is based on over 1000 years of tradition, and invites silence and reflection, necessary for getting to know yourself. The mind calms down.

Zen practice is, among other things, through meditation to get in touch with one's true self, which in turn is part of nature (Dharma) – a greater whole. We let go of the need for control, the pursuit of "something better" or things to fill our everyday lives with.  

What is needed? How? What is the point of gardening? What is art?  

These are questions Åsmund addresses, in addition to plant selection and all the horticultural expertise he has acquired through a 40-year professional career as a designer and landscape gardener. A lecture where philosophy and practice go hand in hand.

Åsmund Bergwitz is a trained landscape gardener with 40 years of experience in garden design and construction. He designed and constructed The Japanese Garden at Drammens Museum. After living and studying in Japan, he specialized in the construction of Japanese gardens adapted to the Norwegian environment.

We hear Åsmund in the Museum Building, before we go out together to the Japanese Garden to take in our own impressions of what we have heard. Welcome!

When: Sunday, May 11
At: 12:00
Where: Workshop, Museum building
Price: Regular admission tickets apply

In 2025, it will be 120 years since Japan and Norway established diplomatic ties. We will mark this with several events focused on continuing to strengthen the ties between our countries.