Art meets nature: Hakya Gago presents her works in the Sexton Garden

Art meets nature: Hakya Gago presents her works in the Sexton Garden

In Cologne, everything currently revolves around the connection between art and nature. Today, September 7, 2025, the “Art Meets Garden” event is celebrated again, and this year the artist Hakya Gago stands out again. Gago, who has her roots on the Japanese island of Hachijojima, shows her fascinating works in the Sexton Garden, just behind the imposing cathedral. This garden is a little hidden, but attracts with its charming atmosphere and offers the perfect backdrop for your work. Her art is strongly inspired by her ancestors, and she sees a golden element in her paintings as a nod to them. This is her second participation this year and the anticipation for her works is palpable.

But Gago is not the only artist who will captivate visitors. Different artists show their creations at numerous other locations in Cologne. Well-known artists such as Kai Hackmann, Hans Christian Rüngeler and Ulrich Westerfrölke are represented in the Koch Garden at Pipinstrasse 33. Great talent can also be found in the gardens of Ahle, Beckmann and others. The variety of artwork displayed in the gardens ranges from abstract sculptures to poetic installations.

Artistic diversity in Cologne

The gardens participating in the event span the entire city and offer a wide range of artistic expressions. Whether in the Busdorfgarten, in the Marx nursery or in the Kloke garden - creative energy can be felt everywhere. Each of these beautiful spots tells its own story and offers the artists the stage they deserve.

A highlight is the garden of Maria Himmelfahrt Monastery on Theodor-Heuss-Straße, where artists such as Ulla Mersch and Dagmar Körkemeier present their works. The roof terrace of the Stadtwerke, which can be found at Rolandsweg 80, also provides a special setting for artistic performances with its great view. Here it becomes clear that the people of Cologne not only enjoy indulging in the attractive gardens, but also place a high value on art.

A touch of Japanese aesthetics

It becomes particularly exciting when you put the artist Gago's inspiration into a larger context. Their roots in Hachijojima are not only part of their identity, but they also reflect Japan's deep cultural and aesthetic traditions. Consider the Shosei-en Garden in Kyoto, a true masterpiece of Japanese horticulture with its breathtaking landscape, two ponds and a historic temple. Such gardens are not only places of peace and meditation, they are also venues for cultural encounters - exactly what Gago strives for with her art in the Cologne context.

The “Art Meets Garden” event series not only offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy art, but also to experience the connection between nature and human creation. And so Cologne residents and their guests can look forward to colorful moments in the city's gardens.

For further information about the event and the list of artists, we recommend visiting the Paderborn homepage: paderborn.de. You can find out more about Gago's inspiring background in the Westfalen-Blatt: westfalen-blatt.de. And there is exciting information for everyone who is interested in the splendor of Japanese gardens japan.travel.