THE FIGURE OF THE GARDEN IN THE WORK OF JAROSLAW MAREK RYMKIEWICZ

This article claims that the world of Rymkiewicz's writings is founded on the figure of the garden. This is to be understood as a literary structure and genological form, though primarily as a theme with complex anthropological and philosophical underpinnings. According to that vision human reality resembles a garden in its intricate combination of nature and culture. Since reality can be apprehended solely through cultural categories, we always get it signposted and 'chartered', ie. marked out from the non-human world. This theme is discussed here in a way which pays careful attention to the change in Rymkiewicz's thought. Notably, while in his early works he insists that no experience can get round the process of mediatization, later he modifies his position. Although nobody can break out of his cultural shell, nature - ie. the non-human reality - is able to force its way across the cultural barriers and unveils its mystery.