The catalogue is published on the occasion of the 5th International Biennale in Nagoya, ARTEC '97. The theme concept of the Biennale is 'THE GARDEN: The Successors to Eden', the Biennale proposed the idea of a 'meta-garden': the environment of the near future and unconscious landscapes concealed in close and familiar spaces. The main contents of the catalogue is compiled of the description of each work displayed in the theme exhibition, together with an article accompanying the work.

Artists who participated in the theme exhibition were Diller + Scofidio (U.S.A), Stan Douglas (Canada), Piero Fogliati (Italy), Jaques Remus (France), Thomas Shannon (U.S.A) and Katsuhiro Yamaguchi (Japan). Biographies of these artists are included.

Other artists from abroad who were shortlisted in the International Open Competition include Philippe Boissonnet, Louis-Philippe Demers & Bill Vorn, Chris Dodge, Monika Fleischmann, Wolfgang Strauss & Christian Bohn, H3 (Christopher Hales, Emma Hauldren & jane Hauldren), Jon McCormack and Dan Oki.