Olivia Laing on the politics of gardens: ‘A garden is a rebel state’

Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “And I think a lot of the gardens that I’m interested in are, for one reason or another, a rebellious state – they operate according to different principles.” open image in gallery ‘The garden is an invitation into a different way of participating with nature’ Through the book, there is a strong sense of the garden as remedial and as a corrective – both individually, and societally. open image in gallery ‘The Garden Against Time’ is Laing’s seventh book “It was a huge relief to me, to have this vision of us as something helpful,” said Laing. “I’ve always believed that the garden is the best of us as humans and to read these much darker and more sinister stories about gardens of dominance and power made me feel very depressed, but finding these counter-gardens that are about generosity and about relinquishing control in some areas, but also playing, creating and being a participant in the garden – that felt very exciting.” Laing’s vision doesn’t remain in their Suffolk garden. “And I think knowing our history, understanding the ways in which power works, but also the ways in which resistance works, is absolutely vital.” ‘The Garden Against Time’ is out now, published by Picador.