Aliens: Colonial Narratives Through Plant Migration and Bio-Art Artists: Supermrin, Adam Vackar Curated by Isabella Indolfi
PS122 Gallery 150 First Avenue, New York June 1 – 23, 2024 Eradicated, discriminated against, declared illegal and invasive: Plants, like humans, are victims of violent, colonial, and capitalistic cultures. If they could speak, they would tell the recurrent history of expropriation and domestication. The exhibition "Aliens" explores the politics of land and nature through artists Adam Vackar and Supermrin, who use plants to examine concepts of domination and migration. The invasive Giant Hogweed of Eastern Europe and the American manicured lawn each convey ideologies of invasion, showing how colonial narratives shape our concept of nature. Adam Vackar’s works trace the Hogweed’s migration and analyze political eradication campaigns, highlighting how invasion rhetoric extends to humans, animals, and plants alike. US-based Indian artist Supermrin's project, FIELD, intersects sculpture, performance, and bioethics. Using waste lawn clippings to create biodegradable bio-plastic, her artworks reflect on urban lawns as symbols of capitalism, racism, and ecological destruction. FIELD also explores her alienation and anxiety in the face of climate change. The exhibition project makes the human public encounter a natural environment that demands justice. "Aliens" uses the concept of "otherness" to reflect on our own identities and societal structures. This exhibition is supported by grant of the National Recovery Plan of the Ministry of Culture Czech Republic.
Click here for exhibition viewsSymposium Giant Hogweed - From Eradication to Nourishment, from Struggle to Care 1014 Inc. Space for Ideas 1014 5th Avenue, New York www.1014.nyc Thursday, May 9, 2024 The symposium organized by artist Adam Vackar at 1014 Inc. delves into the intricate relationship between humans and the botanical world, spotlighting the Giant Hogweed as a symbol of this dynamic. This towering species, introduced for its ornamental appeal and possesses a singular aesthetics, now epitomizes the complex interactions and unforeseen consequences of introducing non-native flora to new ecosystems. Through a lens of nuanced understanding, the symposium challenges the traditional categorization of invasive species, advocating for a holistic approach that recognizes their evolving ecological roles and the intertwined narratives of human and plant migration. It calls for a shift in perspective, encouraging a deeper exploration of biodiversity, and the symbiotic influences shaping our natural world. Starting from the perspective of visual art, the symposium is set to showcase a multidisciplinary array of perspectives, from the featuring contributions from the following distinguished speakers:
Dr. Bernd Blossey Professor, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Cornell University Dr. Abigail Perez Aguilera Assistant Professor, Environmental Policy & Sustainability Management, The New School Dr. Harpreet Sareen Professor, Synthetic Ecosystems Lab, Parsons School of Design Barbora Bartunkova PhD Candidate in the History of Art at Yale University Isabella Indolfi Independent Curator Adam Vackar Artist, Researcher, PhD Candidate
This symposium is supported by grant of the National Recovery Plan of the Ministry of Culture Czech Republic and by Residency Unlimited and 1014 Inc.
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