I am reading around the subject of Chinese garden history and am struck by the use of calligraphy in their gardens. Poetry, calligraphy, and landscape painting were interchangeable arts and found their expression in garden making.
A piece of calligraphy can be beautiful in its own right, but the words conveyed can bring another dimension to the place, casting an atmosphere that synchronises the mindset of the visitor with the designers intent. This powerful way to personalise a place is very little used in this country and regrettably text rarely makes an appearance. . . although the garden of Ian Hamilton Finlay is a notable exception to this