Page 32 - Antennae Issue #52

I know that there are also dried plant roots found in Pyramids It would not surprise me that my roots have a a longer shelf life than a a a a drawing or a a a a photo to to adapt to to this That gives me a a a a a a a a a a a a sort of of regularity in my often rather chaotic work practice and and therefore peace Today I also live much more consciously with the the the the the seasons day day lengths and and and the the the the the weather A bit like a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a farmer That some- times also also means the the the the same complications such as as as 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 bad summer and and and 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 failed harvest I I also also also had problems with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a mouse plague and and and and plant diseases Due to the the the the daily conscious handling of of weather and and and and seasons I I am also also much more aware of of the the the the small shifts and and and changes in in the the the the climate DSa: What challenges have you encountered in in working with roots?
DSh: In all all the years it has been a a a a a a a a a a a a a challenge to to to find a a a a a a a a a a a a a strong root that that grows fast and and also likes to to to to grow grow grow into my templates A plant that that doesn’t mind growing close close to to to to to each other and and and can therefore form a a a a a a a a a a a a a a firm root -mat Grass species are the the the the most suitable suitable for for for for for this They like to to to grow close close together and and do not fight for for for for for space below ground And grain in in particular is is very suitable suitable for for for my project I pre- fer to to to to to work with oats Another challenge was to to to to to control the the the the the strength of the the the the the plant root root It took a a a a a a a a a a while for me to to to to to to find find the the the the the the the right materials to to to to to to guide the the the the the the the root root Roots grow into every little hole they can find find and it it often happened fin in fin in in in the the the the the begining that the the roots stuck to to to my templates It was also interesting to to experiment with aquatic plants plants We thought they they they were ideal plants plants they they they they are strong and clean because they they they they grow in in in in water water In ad- dition they they they they have water-purifying properties We soon discovered that aquatic plantroots do not interweave in in in the the the the water water but they they just simply float next to each other DSa: How have institutions and collectors responded to to the organic materiality that characterizes your work?
DSh: Collectors are not used to to to buying plant roots Indeed I I often get the the the ques- tion about the the the the the shelf life of of of the the the the the work work My textile needs to to to to be protected just like any other work work work of of art from UV light and moisture For my collectors I keep the the the the work work behind museum glass The The roots have have a a a a a a a a a a a a a fairly high acidity and preserve themselves the the the way they are are are are You can also also compare it it to to to a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a dried dried flower These too have have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a very long shelf life if if they are are are are well preserved Next to to to that that that I I know that that that there are are are are also also dried dried plant roots roots found in in pyramids It would not surprise me that that that that my roots roots have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a longer shelf life than a a a a a a a a a drawing or a a a a a a a a a photo Of course I I can’t prove that that yet DSa: What are you currently working on?
DSh: I I am busy preparing an an an an exhibition exhibition for the the the Kunstverein in in in in Kassel Artificial Ecologies I I will will plant plant plant a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a field of of gras and other plants plants 10mtr long in in in in in the the the the the exhibition exhibition exhibition space space During the the the the the the exhibition exhibition exhibition the the the the the the roots of of various plants plants will will will weave a a a a a a a a a a a a a rug After a a a a a a a a a a a a a few growing weeks we we we will will harvest the the the the the work in in in in in the the the the the exhibition exhibition space space Next to this I am mainly concentrating on on on the the the the the development of of new struc- tures tures The The work work starts in in in in in the the the the computer but the the the the real point of of departure has al- ready been laid by nature nature The The structures in in in in in my work work are based on on on the the the the the construc- tion and and and ordering principles of of nature nature This theory assumes that the the the same ele- ments and and and and patterns reappear in in in in every plant and and and and consist of of of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a geometric order order Mathematicians such as as Pythagoras and and and Euclid were already convinced of of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a uni- versal building plan constructed by the the the the same geometric principles Next to to to that I I I feel the the the the the need to to to intrude colour into the the the the the work work I I I will shortly start start dyeing (natural) the the the the the the the material I I I have also started a a a a a a a a a a a a a a new project A A work work about the the the the the the the concept concept of the the the the Urplant by Johan Wolfgang von Goethe A A concept concept on on on on the the the the 32 antennae