Mohamed Bourouissa at the Tuileries GardenMohamed Bourouissa at the Tuileries Garden

The Tuileries Garden was created in 1564 for Catherine de’ Medici, widow of King Henri II, and opened to the public in the 17th century. Today, it receives 14 million visitors per year. The garden, managed by the Musée du Louvre since 2005, is protected as a UNESCO Historic Monument and World Heritage Site. In 2019, it was awarded the ‘Jardin Remarquable’ label, and in 2025, the ‘Ecojardin’ label.

The garden is maintained by a team of 15 ornamental gardeners, working alongside 15 reception and security staff. The ornamental gardeners are selected for their expertise in handling the particularities of a historic garden, including everything from orange-tree maintenance to trimming topiary. Their creativity can be seen in the spring and summer floral landscaping, inspired by the temporary exhibitions at the Musée du Louvre. They also maintain and improve various parts of the gardens, groves, and flowerbeds. Their work also takes on less-visible forms, such as making nest boxes for the local birds.

Mohamed Bourouissa’s project was all the more appreciated by the gardeners for the long time he spent in the garden. Truly apprehending the garden in all its complexity necessarily means living with it for at least a year. Throughout the seasons, Bourouissa forged bonds of mutual understanding and curiosity. Two points in particular marked this year of companionship. On 6 April 2024, Bourouissa and Floriane Guihaire, Head of the Gardens Subdepartment, held a public discussion in the Bosquet des Oiseaux, where the gardeners have carried out a number of innovative experiments since 2021. On 9 December 2024, Bourouissa graciously invited the gardeners to visit his studio. 

‘Mohamed is someone with a lot of humanity. I really appreciated his presence.’

Lionel, ornamental gardener

 ‘The studio visit really impressed me. I understood that he was an artist who works with everything, not just someone taking pictures in the garden on his phone...’

Lahcene,