Abbas Akhavan's 'Study for a Garden' transforms Delfina Foundation's townhouse with territorial interventions

In early 2013, Abbas Akhavan presented five site-specific installations at the Delfina Foundation's townhouse in London for the exhibition titled 'Study for a Garden.' This exhibition delves into themes of sculpture's relationship with territory and domestic violence. One installation features a wall of Leylandii hedging, referencing the UK's 2005 High Hedges Act, which delineates public and private spaces. Another piece includes a modified drop-leaf table that drips water into a tub, connected to an upper-floor sprinkler, forming a pool. The basement contains a dining table filled with manure-rich soil, reminiscent of a grave. Akhavan's use of DIY aesthetics and existing traces in the building creates a haunting, squat-like atmosphere, reflecting his interest in the political aspects of residency. The exhibition was reviewed in the January & February 2013 issue of ArtReview.