The Whole World is a Garden at IMAS  

McAllen, TX- The International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS) is pleased to announce the exhibition The Whole World is a Garden by Mónica Chang will be opening January 14, 2023, through April 30, 2023. 

The Whole World is Garden by Mónica Chang explores the simple but often overlooked idea of enjoying life at its fullest by becoming one with nature and the surrounding environment.  

She takes inspiration from Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, an Indian humanitarian and spiritual leader frequently referred to as “Sri Sri” (sh-ree sh-ree) who founded the Art of Living Foundation in 1981, a volunteer-based NGO (non-governmental organization) providing social support to the people. It is an understated yet well-recognized fact that happiness cannot be achieved by fulfilling it with materialistic things but by surrounding oneself with nature and people. She quotes Sri Sri by commenting “The day you realize that the whole world is your house –the sky your roof, the earth your floor, and that each tree is part of your garden— then, you will truly be at home.” Such words were the foundation for The Whole World is a Garden. 

The picturesque paintings in this exhibition connect viewers to the raw beauty and liveliness Chang finds in nature which she shares through soft but colorful brushstrokes depicting scenes filled with flowers and other elements of nature, like strong colorful sunny or night skies, ponds, hummingbirds, and butterflies. The paintings come together to capture her memories, feelings, and dreams. The integrated feminine figures in floral mosaics along with gold and glimmer touches are like those used by early 20th century painters like Gustav Klimt and Henri Rousseau to give the viewers the mix of vibrant nature scenes and dream-like feminine figures. Chang embraces both realism and impressionism in her use of colors and subjects that affords viewers the opportunity to consider the whole world as a garden.  

Mónica Chang, Pinta una sonrisa en mi, 2018, oil on canvas

Mónica Chang, El jardín de los sueños, 2021, oil on canvas