“I always had to justify myself to my teachers,” explained Jean-Michel Othoniel in 2011. “My work was too beautiful. There was no cynicism in it.” Despite the doubters, Othoniel stayed true to his vision. His practice is both dazzling and mysterious, touching on the power of desire. In a tribute to Japan, this exhibition presents his “Gold Lotus” series in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond garden, a lush, quiet section of the park. On the Lily Pool Terrace, towering over the water, there are two huge sculptures made from Othoniel’s signature beads of mirrored glass. In the nearby Fragrance Garden, the artist pays homage to the rose, the flower of courtly love. Seduction and reflection—these too are themes in the garden. —Elena Clavarino