Niki de Saint Phalle. The Grotto

The Herrenhäuser Gärten in Hanover belongs among the most beautiful parks in Germany. Its Grosser Garten was begun in 1666 and constitutes one of the most important baroque grounds in Europe. The north-western part of this treasure houses the grotto, built in 1676. The three rooms, originally decorated with mussels, crystals, glass and minerals, served as a place of enchantment and as a cool retreat on hot days. The decorations were removed as early as the eighteenth century, however, and afterwards the building was used as a permanent storeroom. After its restoration for EXPO 2000, the inside of the grotto was newly designed according to plans by Niki de Saint Phalle, a project which was to become the last work in an unusual Oeuvre, since the artist died in the spring of 2002. The octagonal middle room and those to its left and right were splendidly decorated with mosaics made from colored glass and mirrors, with pebbles and numerous painted sculptures made of fibreglass. The spiral- shaped arrangement of the ornaments around the column in the entrance hall symbolizes spirituality, with the western mirrored room signifying day and life and the eastern blue room night and the cosmos. Revised edition (German edition ISBN 978-3-7757-5864-2)