Gardens have long been an integral part of Chinese culture, Hearn says.

"The creation of miniature worlds that emulated and distilled the natural world emblemized what nature has always meant to the Chinese," he says. "They have played the role of escapist space, dwellings for the immortals and a place for recluses to flee from government affairs."

The link between gardens and art has always been particularly strong in China, he says.

"I suspect that there have always been garden architects in every country who have been artists, but the fact that in China the same people who were patrons were often themselves poets and amateur painters, meant that there was a particularly close relationship. These gardens were often designed by painters, and were also a source of inspiration for the painters," he says.

"The role of gardens has been central to the Chinese mind and therefore has also played a very important role as a theme in art, and a source of inspiration."

Although gardens are not as prevalent in China as they once were, Hearn believes that the function they play has not changed. The most prominent example of recent garden architecture is I.M. Pei's work with the Suzhou Museum, which features pavilion architecture, bridges and waterways.

"I think the challenge for contemporary garden architects is how you modernize a tradition and still identify strongly with that tradition," he says. "But I think this idea will continue to be explored in China."

The last four exhibitions in the Chinese galleries at the Metropolitan have been loans from other institutions, so the gardens exhibit is noteworthy, Hearn says.

"This is an extraordinary moment, because the Met has really come of age with its Chinese collection," he told media recently. The museum was in possession of only four pieces in the current show before 1970.

"The exhibition includes pieces from the 10th century right up to the 20th century, and that's a special thrill. It's a great moment to really explore the strengths of our collection."

Hearn believes that Western audiences will connect with the idea of self-cultivation, he says.

"Voltaire once said that we should all cultivate our own gardens, and I think that concept has been present in China for many, many centuries," he says.

"We all need to find our own personal gardens, in the sense that a garden is a place to discover not only nature but oneself. That's something we can certainly learn from today."

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