ORCHID SHOW: MEXICAN MODERNISM-FEBRUARY 15TH THROUGH APRIL 27TH

The New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show: Mexican Modernism has exploded onto the New York City scene in eye-popping color.

The NYBG exhibit is so welcome at this time of year. Many New Yorkers and Garden members having been waiting with high anticipation for the annual orchid show to brighten up this period of winter’s doldrums.

The show is superlative. In displays of orchids, one showier than the next, the exhibition, inspired by the vibrant, multi-hued designs of Mexican architect Luis Barragán (1902-1988), leaves one with a treasured emotional uplift.

It is just great knowing one may now walk through the galleries of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory’s beauties taking in the breathtaking orchids in fabulous displays while the winter cold and potential snowfalls remain outside.

There’s no place better to be than in the comforting warmth of orchid pageantry, as one saunters through the conservatory’s splendid galleries.

This is NYBG 22nd Orchid Show

Moving through the various galleries beginning with the Palms of the World gallery, visitors will note the myriad orchid species from the family Orchidaceae. According to Marc Hachadourian, Director of Glasshouse Horticulture & Senior Curator of Orchids at NYBG, orchids grow in every continent on the planet except Antarctica.

The orchid exhibit features rare orchids in the glass case just before you go into the rain forest gallery. Importantly, in color and variety, NYBG staff arranged thousands of orchids. Many from Mexico are featured on the Luis Barragán inspired yellow lattice fence designs that are perfect for growing the particular displays.

The exhibit is so utterly beautiful because it brings Luis Barragán’s renown, minimalist, architectural style to NYBG. According to those who elected to have Barragán as this year’s featured artist of the orchid show, Barragán was highly influential in defining Mexican modernist architecture. He adapted international trends using what was at hand in Mexico, suffusing Mexican culture and style with international ideas. His achitecture employed organic textures, vibrant cultural hues and native Mexican plants like cactus, agave and other succulents.

Look for the accompanying signage to understand how Luis Barragán’s designs meld with the unique orchids chosen for the yellow lattice fences (Carole Di Tosti)

In the rotunda, magic and contrast

Barragán was able to master balancing contrasting elements: splashes of color pop against neutrals. Geometric shapes cast dramatic shadows across starkly hued vibrant walls. Clean lines emerge and strike against the circular shapes of lava rocks and prickly desert plants.

Check out the succulents which provide a curious and striking contrast to the exotic, luxuriant orchids attached to various walled structures, and lattice fences. The effect of the plantings encourages otherworldly, mesmerizing visuals.

It is vital to remember that Mexico has a wide range of ecosystems that contain 10-12 percent of the world’s botanical species and their accompanying animal species. Mexico is one of the largest biodiversity hotspots on Earth. Additionally, it includes more than 1,300 orchid species, about 40 percent of which are endemic. In other words, they are not found anywhere else on the planet.

Walking through the galleries, note these native plants from Mexico and the surrounding plantings that feature the stunning orchids that are companion pieces to the walls and the fantasy blue tree in the rotunda. It is a multi-faceted display which is non pareil. Also, check out the water features which are reminiscent of the cooling fountains throughout Mexico City and smaller cities in Barragán’s beloved homeland.

Numerous designs include a predominance of Moth orchids (phalaenopsis) in the large Barragán inspired structures. These are present especially in the Palms of the World Gallery, the rotunda and the walkway gallery, whose distance perspective is absolutely stunning.

The walkway gallery with stunning perspectives

On your visit, make sure to stand with your back to the exit door of the Palms of the World Gallery and look toward the rotunda. As you look through the vistas of the diminishing rectangular walls of orchids, the combined effect will take your breath away.

One reason why you will see phalaenopsis in the large, spectacular displays is because they are hardier and last longer, looking vital and robust. Phalaenopsis maintain their blooms with proper care for more than a few weeks until they get dreary and droopy. NYBG staff continually replace orchids that have moved past their prime. Indeed, when I visited during the press preview, Marc Hachadourin was speaking with staff to insure that orchids and their plantings looked fresh and vibrant. He suggested that staff check places here and there which needed some attention.

The 22nd orchid show, as previous shows have done, showcases diverse ecosystems where orchids make their home. Even in the desert gallery with the cacti and succulents featured in this show because of their relationship to Mexican environs, you will see that NYBG has an orchid that lives in the dry terrain of the desert. However, that orchid may not be blooming for you to see during this time in the season.

In one of the galleries where there were benches, I noted that visitors on Members Day crowded to sit and take in the glorious sights. They so enjoyed the serene and peaceful setting of the dazzling orchids, hanging vines, fountain splashing water and tropical beauty that created a magical world. They were loathe to leave and move on to the other galleries. As happens with the annual orchid show, members made sure to take their time to appreciate the exotic, ethereal orchid wonders.

ORCHID NIGHTS

This magic can be experienced all throughout the exhibition various days and night and in different venues in a marvelous celebration of Mexico’s extensive botanical history. For example, on select evenings, Orchid Nights bring the happy beats of cumbia music, with cumbia sonidea dance parties led by a DJ and professional dancers.

Come to experience the party atmosphere of traditional tracks and modern influences that create an immersive dance experience. DJ hellotones, “El Hijo de PueblaYork,”is Bronx-born and at the forefront of a cultural renaissance that uplifts the Mexican diaspora in New York City.

Uplifted is the cumbia genre. Mark Saldana, a.k.a. Coolmarx, born and raised in Queens and based in Brooklyn, embraces variations of cumbia in his community-based dance lessons. These include cumbia colombiana, ecuatoriana, peruana, and mexicana.

Orchid Nights feature music and dancing, cash bars and food (lite bites) for purchase for adults 21 and over. Experience the energy and exuberance carried from the exhibit to the appreciation of all things Mexican. Select evenings are February 22; March 8, 25, 22 and 29; April 5, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26.

Photography Exhibit by Mexican-American Visual Artist Martirene Alcantara.

Check out the LuEsther T. Mertz Library to see how the artist captures the essence of Luis Barragán’s vibrantly colorful and geometrical works.

For additional programming go to https://www.nybg.org/event/the-orchid-show-mexican-modernism/