INSPIRATION: RANDOLL COATES, LABYRINTHOLOGIST
The Borges Labyrinth, Venice (Source: Weird Italy)
We’ve recently discovered (thanks to Monty Don) the beautiful Borges Labyrinth—well, one of the Borges Labyrinths. It turns out there are actually two: this one in Venice and another in Mendoza, Argentina, both using a design created by Randoll Coates.
As the story goes it was conceived in a dream in 1979 by Coates, who wanted to make a monument to the writer Jorge Luis Borges. Fast forward some years, and the design is now a wonderfully graphic piece of hedge lettering of a huge scale. And as with all of Coates labyrinths, there is much hidden within it—so much so it comes with a translation.
(Source: Universes)
The Imprint of Man design (Source: Country Life)
Hidden symbolism is nothing new to Coates’ designs. His first labyrinth The Imprint of Man at Lechlade Mill was a very large foot. And within said foot are apparently 100 symbols to be found, including all 26 letters of the alphabet, as well as Noah’s ark with 30 animals, among other things… We’ve not found them all yet.
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Further reading:
The war hero and diplomat who mastered the art of making mazes, Country Life
Randoll Coates (Source: Country Life)