THE GARDEN OF EDEN
Going through the small door of "The Sea in Highland", you will be lost in a different world called the Garden of Eden and the Paradise Garden.
The Paradise Garden is a place of exceptional happiness and peace, a place where humans live in harmony with nature. In contrast to the Paradise Garden, the Garden of Eden portrays our present society where good and bad coexist. Stepping out of the Ocean Room, you will catch sight of a sculpture. This sculpture recreates a historical period of Vietnamese society. It consists of figures of people piled up the oldest woman at the bottom, then middle-aged man, the young man and at the top is an owl with a bunch of grapes. Three miserable people with skinny shoulders and sad, austere faces are industrious people with low status. The owl is the metaphorical image of the exploitative class - those who are at the top and receive the best (the bunch of grapes) while the young man below is raising his head, waiting for its leftovers. Standing in this small garden, we can clearly perceive the meaning that the architect wants to express: Coming to our eyes is a beautiful scene with a clear blue lake, fish, plants, and colorful flowers… However, turning our backs, we'll see a large wall with the devil's big hands. They are reaching out their hands as if to grab something. "The Wall of Devil's Hand" reflects a dark part of human being or society. From the past to the present, there are always good and bad sides. Because of that, the conflict between good and evil has always occurred. That conflict never ends, and it is still going on in many ways, in various aspects of life. But all of us always want to head towards perfection and we need to complete those dark aspects and take them to the light, positivity, and the best things like “Garden of Heaven”.
