Page 20 - Antennae Issue #52

Ecological history was also impacted through these same trade routes and cultural ex- changes as human interest and preferences in in certain plants led to a a relationship in which we have modified their genetic evolution Another section of of of Archiving Eden is is is is comprised of of of enlarged X-ray images of of of seeds and plant tissue Doherty collaborated with scientists to to to utilize on-site equipment customarily employed to to to to determine statistical seed viability of of the the the collection Later she edits the the the images images images in in in in in in some cases flipping the the the tones making composite images images images of of multiple seeds and and plants These images images images maintain scientific detail but Doherty notes they are openly metaphoric allowing visitors to to reflect between what is is is shown and and the the invisible poetic possibilities of seed banking [7]
Some photographs including Banksia are digitally collaged compositions of of X-ray images whose altered colors depict blue specimens on on a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a white background The array of of delicate circular spindles is is is is reminiscent of of the the botanical cyanotypes by Anna Atkins Atkins whose British Algae (published 1843–1854) was the the first book created entirely from photographs By illustrating and and identifying aqueous organisms Atkins Atkins fused two contemporaneous cultural phenomena natural sciences sciences and and and photogra- phy while positioning the the new medium as overlapping the the arts and and sciences sciences where Doherty’s work is also situated [8]
The blue and and white compositions also also allude to Delftware Delftware ceramics from the Netherlands A by-product of trans-Eurasia trade Delftware Delftware was was an an an an an affordable alter- native to to Chinese export ware ware which was was was designed exclusively ffor for a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a European market after the the the opening of trade trade routes routes in in in in the the the 14th century Ecological history was was also im- pacted through these same trade trade routes routes and and cultural exchanges as as human interest and and preferences in in in in certain plants led to a a a a a a a a a a a a a a relationship in in in in which we have modified their genetic evolution Trade and and cultural relations are explicit in in in photographs such as Columbian Ex- change III The title references the the the global impact—intended and and unintended—of Chris- topher Columbus’ arrival in in in in in in in the the the the the Americas in in in in in in in the the the the the 15th century [9] Depicting collaged X- rays of of teosinte eucalyptus mesquite and and pecan these plants are are indicative of of the the the the the the Texas landscape Doherty’s home state However they are are not all native to the the the the the the region and and their their co-mingling highlights how humans have altered their their environment The bouquet-like composition of Columbian Exchange III suggests bountiful abundance Yet the the seeds and and tissue samples used for X-ray viability tests are are ultimately dam- aged by the the the the radiation and and and are are unusable specimens Much like 17th-century Dutch still lifes these compositions serve as memento mori and and highlight the the the fragility of of life life The melding of of science with metaphoric interpretations permeates Doherty’s art further augmented by using monumental scale scale and lenticular lenticular panels [10] More than This is is an an an an an an eight-foot-tall lenticular lenticular photograph whose scale scale elicits an an an an an an immediate physical response when encountered Lenticular panels produce a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a hologram-like ef- fect of of movement within the the composition including a a a a a a a a a a a color shift as viewers engage with with the the object The The overall blue and green hues of of More than This references cryo- genics a a a a a a a a a a a a a a crucial aspect to to to seed seed preservation The The color shift performs this transition to to to keep seeds seeds in in in suspended animation and vice versa breathing life back into dor- mant seeds seeds More than This is is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a composite image of nearly 5 000 individual seed seed X-rays captured at Kings Park Botanic Gardens Australia The number number is is is is not arbitrary but symbolic: it it is is is is is the the smallest number number number required to preserve a a a a a a a a a a a a a a single plant species By visualizing this number number Doherty addresses the the issue issue of psychic numbing common to to to to conceptual data related to to to to scientific or or or humanitarian issues [11] Archiving Eden is is is is is is an an an effective entry point for visitors to to to to to to consider the the the vastness of global preservation endeav- ors ors as as the the the photographs maintain scientific accuracy while scaling down the the the concepts to to to to an accessible level Cultivating Integrative Vision
Through the the the interweaving of scientific research historical references and poetic aes- thetics Archiving Eden is is is is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a transdisciplinary approach that demonstrates how the the the visual arts can connect seemingly siloed disciplines [12] Doherty’s artworks demonstrate demonstrate our coevolutionary relationship with plants and the the the environment thereby negating the the the 20 antennae