Maison Européenne de la Photographie
Science/Fiction — A Non-History of PlantsOct 2024 - Jan 2025
The Museum of Plant Art’s second exhibition unveils a captivating series of black-and-white photographs UV-printed directly onto glass and acrylic plates infused with nano-crystalline iridescent vegetal cellulose. These plates, generously provided by the University of Cambridge and its spin-off company Sparxell, mark a pioneering step in sustainable iridescent materials. Unlike conventional surfaces reliant on synthetic chemicals and inks, these plates use plant-based cellulose, with microcrystals that naturally grow to create a dynamic, shimmering effect.
The UV-printed black-and-white images on these iridescent plates offer visitors an exceptional perspective, emulating the way pollinators might perceive flowers. This artistic approach sheds light on the complex visual experience of pollinators, revealing the sophistication in their relationship with plant life.
To deepen this immersive encounter, the exhibition integrates large black-and-white wallpaper prints alongside the iridescent plates, portraying plants at varying focal distances—from expansive landscape views to abstract close-ups. This variety of perspectives encourages audiences to contemplate the diverse visual experiences pollinators may have. Through this layered approach, the exhibition not only illustrates the intricacy of plant-pollinator interactions but also invites viewers to consider these interactions as aesthetic, artistic expressions crafted by the plants themselves.
The Museum of Plant Art
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LIPME (laboratoire des interactions plantes - microbes - environnement. INRAE /CNRS)
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Résidence 1+2
Chapelle des cordeliers Toulouse
14Oct- 26 Nov 2023
Free entry
The first exhibition of The Museum of Plant Art has been developed at the LIPME (laboratoire des interactions plantes - microbes - environnement. INRAE/CNRS) as part of the Résidence 1+2 programme.
It focuses on the range of intricate visual, auditive and olfactive, experiences wildflowers provide to pollinators. It examines the immersive spaces flowers create and the strategies they put in place for their target audience, pollinators. This immersive exhibition recreates some of the elements of flower-pollinator interactions, to facilitate discussion amongst exhibition audiences of their/the pollinator experience as an artistic one.
In this iteration, The Museum of Plant Art celebrates the complexity and beauty of plant colouration choices, using plant-based biodegradable iridescent materials donated by the University of Cambridge and commercial companies.
The exhibition also includes the use of scents and tailor-made music for the space reflecting on the harmonious vibration flowers and pollinators produce together.
This first exhibition was accompanied by a publication by Filigranes Editions and a day conference at the Museum of Contemporary Art Les Abattoirs in Toulouse.
Both the publication and the conference aimed to facilitate reflective debate and expand on the immersive exhibition experience with a series of contributions from leading philosophers, scientists, journalists, and art academics fostering debate on us, our understanding of art and our understanding of earth co-habitants.
Photos of the opening night by Maxime Duhamel
