Marc Peter Keane Berkeley: Stone Bridge Press, 2002. Paperback, 154 pages.
The Art of Setting Stones & Other Writings from the Japanese Garden
Reviewed by William Will
I was originally inspired to start this website after reading this set of essays by Marc Peter Keane. As opposed to most of the other books described in this bibliography, which are objective descriptions of the Japanese garden and its history, this book has a deeply subjective perspective.
The author made Kyoto his home after graduating from Cornell University’s department of landscape architecture, first as a research fellow of Kyoto University, and later as a landscape architect and writer. He is currently adjunct professor at the Kyoto University of Art and Design, and splits his time between lecturing and praticing landscape architecture from his offices in Ithaca, New York.
The 8 essays desribe his intimate experience of the Japanese garden and shed light on both the cultural origins as well as the personal meanings he has derived from his years of study and contemplation.
His unique perspective is informed by a deep understanding of the historical context of the gardens combined with an appreciation of the spiritual traditions that have defined their aesthetics.
Each of the essays is introduced by a black clayboard illustration done by the author, adding a visual interpretation to his often deeply philisophical musings, making this book the most enjoyable writing I have found to date on the Japanese garden.
