Page 25 - Antennae Issue #52

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Embarking on a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a more artistic endeavour and and fascinated by by the the the intelligence and behaviour of plant roots Diana Scherer has explored the material abil- ity of plant roots at at the seedling stage to create an an unprecedented textile-
like material Interwoven Through a a a a a self-developed technique aided by digital fabricated templates which guides the growth of plant roots (patent pending) the artist directs plant roots into geometric patterns found in in nature like honey- comb structures or foliate designs reminiscent of Middle Eastern arabesques Scherer’s work illustrates that roots are not only productive means but also intelligent agents that respond to to and and adapt actively and and dynamically to to their environment Dawn Sanders: When did you start working with plants and and why?
Diana Sherer: Ten years ago I I started working with plants I I was interested in in in the relationship of man versus his his natural environment and his his desire to control nature First I worked with the the plant parts that grow above ground and then slowly went down to to the the bottom I became captivated by the the root system with its hidden underground processes It’s not always easy to explain a a a a a a a fascination and where it comes from Often this this are unconscious processes But in this this case I know that my my interest for crops started with my my grandparents They were farm- ers and during the the the visits to the the the farm I explored in in a a a a a a naturally way the the the life of plants plants In In this case mainly food plants plants such as as grain In In my current project I I I also work a a a a a a a lot with grain such as as oats or or or corn My grandmother was also extremely handy with textiles I consider her her Walburga Scherer to be the basis of Exercises in Rootsystem Domestication DSa: In your work you you make public the parts of of plants that are often unseen- the the roots roots Has working in in such close physical contact with the the roots roots of plants impacted on your understanding of plants and and if so in in what ways?
DSh: From my collaboration with the root system I learned about underground biodiversity For example some plants like to to grow close to to each other and sup- port each other other below ground and and other other species fight their living space and and don’t tolerate other species next to to them I have studied their their appearance and their their aesthetic quality and on a a a a a a a a certain moment I started to approach the the root system as as if it it were yarn For example the refined white root structure of grass reminds me of of silk and and the the powerful yellowish strands of of the the daisy I I compare to wool I I have learned that an enormous communication takes place underground The rhizosphere forms a a a a very dynamic environment in which the plant roots and many organisms are located Plants communicate with each other and collabo- rate with other organisms for example fungi and bacteria For example plants are able to warn each other via the the subterranean network over kilometres of danger or or use it to feed each other and eliminate or or or support weaker plants Roots are incredibly strong In their search for food and space space they they fight for every space space they they can find I use this natural strength to weave my textiles of plant roots