7 Raw
Gelände
7
Gelände
Inspired by the ecological history of Berlin, where the rubble of WWII prompted a boom in biodiversity documented by local botanists such a Herbert Sukkopp, I explored current ‘gap’ spaces in Berlin and their plant life.
This work documents a journey in examining one particular ‘gap’ space – RAW-Gelände, a former DeutscheBahn repair yard – mapping 46 spontaenous plants or ‘weeds’ found on site, seeking a way to center their presence in the representation of disused space. Redevelopment of the space commences in 2024, creating a feeling of a ‘gap’ moment, as well as space. I wanted to capture this.
Plants are directly applied, staining the canvas, in forms echoing the uneven topographies beneath the remaining structures on the land. With time, the natural pigments lose their distinct hues and begin to fade slightly, adding a temporal element to the work.
In Phase 2 of the work, I conducted research to identify these plants with the help of locals and digital tools (e.g. The Flora Incognita Project). I discovered a huge diversity in the origin of these plants, creating my own ‘weed’ database.
In doing this, I began to question the limitation of our hierarchical scientific naming conventions (e.g. Linneaen Taxonomy). Where I could, I identified native language names where these plants were indigenous through international databases and old texts, discovering fragments of cultural history along the way.
I labelled the pigments with english, and where possible native language names, documenting my journey (as an english speaker) in exploring how spontaneous plants can uncover rich histories, as well as provide living reminders of the possible cultural diversity and complexity of a space.
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final work:
plant pigments, bamboo cotton, wood, paper labels
200x60X5cm
200x60X5cm
process documentation below