On June 1st, exactly a month ago, we opened ALIENS - Colonial Narrative Through Plant Migration and Bio Art, featuring works by Supermrin and Adam Vackar, curated by Isabella Indolfi.
We received amazing feedback from the many visitors who joined us throughout the three-week exhibition. Thank you all!
Stay tuned for the video documentation of the insightful talk between the artists and the curator, which will offer a deeper perspective on the show.
@ps122gallery@isabellaindolfi@supermrin@adam.vackar#bioart#videoart#sculpture
The Heracles of Hogweed, 2022-24, 4K video, 18’
Original soundtrack Natalie Plevakova
My film presented at PS 122 gallery in exhibition together with artists Supermrin curated by Isabella Indolfi, is a result of several years of research about Heracleum Mantegazzianum — commonly known as Giant Hogweed, a large, imposing exotic and yet controversial plant that often elicits negative or even hostile reactions. It is a so-called invasive species, whose photoactive substance contained in the sap causes severe skin burns and possible blindness. Typically it grows to heights of 2 to 5 meters. Because of its impressive size, Giant Hogweed was brought to Europe and North America as an ornamental plant and garden curiosity.
ALIENS
Colonial Narratives Through Plant Migration and Bio-Art
Supermrin, Adam Vackar
PS122 Gallery
150 1st Ave, New York
Exhibition dates: June 1 – 23, 2024
#HeraclesOfHogweed#GiantHogweed#HeracleumMantegazzianum#BioArt#ColonialNarratives#EnvironmentalArt#InvasiveSpecies#ArtExhibition#PS122Gallery#NataliePlevakova#Supermrin#AdamVackar#IsabellaIndolfi#PlantMigration#EcologicalArt#NatureVsHuman#HistoricalBotany#ArtAndScience#videoart
Today was the last day of our exhibition. It was a fantastic professional and personal experience, and I’m thrilled to have been a part of it. Many thanks to the exhibition curator, Isabella Indolfi, for her dedication and pursuit of this exciting project!
ALIENS
Colonial Narratives Through Plant Migration and Bio-Art
Artists: Supermrin, Adam Vackar
Curator: Isabella Indolfi
Exhibition Dates: June 1 – 23, 2024
Viewing Hours: Friday – Sunday, 1- 6 pm and by appointment
PS122 Gallery 150 First Avenue, New York, NY 1000
Check out exhibition views from current show at PS122 curated by Isabella Indolfi, with my works along with amazing artist Supermrin. The exhibiton theme brings up colonial narratives in both non-human and human worlds.
ALIENS
Colonial Narratives Through Plant Migration and Bio-Art
Supermrin, Adam Vackar
PS122 Gallery
150 1st Ave, New York
Exhibition dates: June 1 – 23, 2024
╯╯╯Eradicated, discriminated against, declared illegal and invasive: Plants, like humans, are victims of violent, colonial, and capitalistic cultures, and if they could speak, they would be able to tell the recurrent history of expropriation and domestication. The way humans perceive, act and legislate on the plant kingdom clearly reflects xenophobic sentiments toward their own species.
╯╯╯Check out exhibition views from current show at PS122 curated by Isabella Indolfi, with my works along with amazing artist Supermrin. The exhibiton theme brings up colonial narratives in both non-human and human worlds.
ALIENS
Colonial Narratives Through Plant Migration and Bio-Art
Supermrin, Adam Vackar
PS122 Gallery
150 1st Ave, New York
Exhibition dates: June 1 – 23, 2024
╯╯╯Eradicated, discriminated against, declared illegal and invasive: Plants, like humans, are victims of violent, colonial, and capitalistic cultures, and if they could speak, they would be able to tell the recurrent history of expropriation and domestication. The way humans perceive, act and legislate on the plant kingdom clearly reflects xenophobic sentiments toward their own species.
The exhibition “Aliens” offers a perspective on the politics of land and nature through two artists, Adam Vackar and Supermrin, who work with plants as their subject, medium, and primary source of inspiration as a way to explore concepts of domination and migration. The history of the invasive Giant Hogweed of Eastern Europe and the history of the American manicured lawn separately convey ideologies of invasion and, juxtaposed, show how our concept of nature is shaped by colonial narratives.
This exhibition is supported by the National Recovery Plan of the Ministry of Culture Czech Republic
Special thanks to Residency Unlimited
#AliensExhibition#PlantMigration#BioArt#ContemporaryArt#ArtExhibition#PS122Gallery#AdamVackar#Supermrin#IsabellaIndolfi#ArtAndNature#ArtisticExpression#ArtAndPolitics#ClimateChangeArt#EcoArt#InvasiveSpecies#UrbanSpaces#ArtCurator#ResidencyUnlimited#LowerCavity
In the exhibition ALIENS, Adam Vackar’s documentary film and installation delve into the complexities of human interaction with the Giant Hogweed, an invasive species originating from the Caucasus.
Challenging the traditional perspective on migrating plants and the narrow-minded human approach to these organisms, the film traces this plant’s migration from Central Asia to Eastern Europe to the Americas.
By analyzing the eradication campaign directed against the Giant Hogweed, Adam Vackar shows how the rhetoric of invasion and illegality, even when extended to plants, feeds the xenophobic sentiments of our society.
ALIENS
Colonial Narratives Through Plant Migration and Bio-Art
Artists: Supermrin, Adam Vackar
Curator: Isabella Indolfi
June 1-23, 2024
PS122 Gallery, 150 First Avenue, New York
@supermrin@adam.vackar@isabellaindolfi#videoart#installation#plantbased#bioart#colonialnarratives#sculpture#aliens
ALIENS _ Colonial Narratives Through Plant Migration and Bio Art.
Artists: Supermrin, Adam Vackar
Curator: Isabella Indolfi
June 1-23, 2024
Eradicated, discriminated against, declared illegal and invasive: Plants, like humans, are victims of violent, colonial, and capitalistic cultures, and if they could speak, they would be able to tell the recurrent history of expropriation and domestication.
The exhibition “Aliens” offers a perspective on the politics of land and nature through two artists, Adam Vackar and Supermrin, who work with plants as their subject, medium, and primary source of inspiration as a way to explore concepts of domination and migration.
The history of the invasive Giant Hogweed of Eastern Europe and the history of the American manicured lawn separately convey ideologies of invasion and, juxtaposed, show how our concept of nature is shaped by colonial narratives
@ps122gallery@isabellaindolfi@supermrin@adam.vackar#plantbased#colonialnarratives#bioart#sculpture#videoart#aliens
Join us on June 1st, 6-8pm at the PS122 Gallery in NYC for the opening of ALIENS, an exhibition that explores colonial narratives through plant migration and Bio Art. Featuring works by artists Supermrin, @supermrin and Adam Vackar, @adam.vackar
curated by Isabella Indolfi@isabellaindolfi
Join us on Saturday June 1st, 6-8pm at the PS122 Gallery for the opening!
ALIENS: Colonial Narratives Through Plant Migration and Bio-Art
Supermrin, Adam Vackar
Curatored by Isabella Indolfi
PS122 Gallery
150 1st Ave, New York
Exhibition dates: June 1 – 23, 2024
Opening reception: Saturday June 1, 6-8 pm
Eradicated, discriminated against, declared illegal and invasive: Plants, like humans, are victims of violent, colonial, and capitalistic cultures, and if they could speak, they would be able to tell the recurrent history of expropriation and domestication. The way humans perceive, act and legislate on the plant kingdom clearly reflects xenophobic sentiments toward their own species.
The exhibition “Aliens” offers a perspective on the politics of land and nature through two artists, Adam Vackar and Supermrin, who work with plants as their subject, medium, and primary source of inspiration as a way to explore concepts of domination and migration. The history of the invasive Giant Hogweed of Eastern Europe and the history of the American manicured lawn separately convey ideologies of invasion and, juxtaposed, show how our concept of nature is shaped by colonial narratives.
This exhibition is supported by the National Recovery Plan of the Ministry of Culture Czech Republic
Special thanks to Residency Unlimited
#AliensExhibition#plantmigration#BioArt#ContemporaryArt#ArtExhibition#PS122Gallery#AdamVackar#Supermrin#IsabellaIndolfi#ArtAndNature#ArtisticExpression#ArtAndPolitics#climatechangeart#EcoArt#InvasiveSpecies#UrbanSpaces#ArtCurator#ResidencyUnlimited#LowerCavity
For years, my journey with the Giant Hogweed has profoundly shaped my understanding of the world, embracing complexity and depth. I’ve collaborated with experts across diverse fields—visual art, botany, ecofeminism, global justice, material science, biology, electronics, art history, and curating. Together, we’ve explored the decolonization of guest species and delved into non-human perspectives.
On May 9th, I had the pleasure of hosting the interdisciplinary symposium “Giant Hogweed: From Eradication to Nourishment, from Struggle to Care” at 1014 Inc., New York. This event brought together a multitude of voices to debate and discuss these crucial themes.
🌱 Dr. Bernd Blossey
Professor, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Cornell University
🌱 Dr. Abigail Perez Aguilera
Assistant Professor, Environmental Policy and 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 event is made possible by Residency Unlimited and substantial financial assistance from the National Recovery Plan, Ministry of Culture Czech Republic.
Photos by Gili Benita
Q
#GiantHogweed#GiantHogweedSymposium#EnvironmentalDialogue#SustainableFuture#1014Inc#ResidencyUnlimited#CulturalSustainability#AdamVackar#BerndBlossey#AbigailPerezAguilera#HarpreetSareen#IsabellaIndolfi#BarboraBartunkova@1014nyc@residencyunlimited@adam.vackar
Greatest thanks to all participants of the interdisciplinary symposium “Giant Hogweed: From Eradication to Nourishment, from Struggle to Care” which I organized on May 9, 2024 at 1014 Inc., New York.
It debated aspects of the decolonization of guest species and related non-human perspectives.
The symposium presented expertise from an array of speakers:
🌱 Dr. Bernd Blossey
Professor, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Cornell University
🌱 Dr. Abigail Perez Aguilera
Assistant Professor, Environmental Policy and 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
Why is visual art dealing with human vs. botanical interaction? Visual art operates intuitively and relies on associative thinking, which distinguishes it from other forms of knowledge. It enables us to see problems in a different light, facilitating comparisons and connections to other cognitive forms. This approach allows for an exploration of the vast complexity of interactions between humans and the botanical world.
The symposium uncovered the intricate relationship between humans and the botanical world, spotlighting the case study of Giant Hogweed as a symbol of this dynamic. This towering species, introduced for its ornamental appeal, now epitomizes the complex interactions and unforeseen consequences of introducing non-native flora to new ecosystems. Through a lens of nuanced understanding, the symposium challenged the traditional categorization of invasive species, advocating for a revised approach that recognizes their evolving ecological roles and the intertwined narratives of human and plant migration.
This event is made possible by Residency Unlimited and substantial financial assistance from the National Recovery Plan, Ministry of Culture Czech Republic.
Photos: Gili Benita
