The “Ecologiile grijii și îngrijirii. Capitolul 1: PLANTE UTILE” exhibition, initiated by Gabriela Mateescu, joins contemporary art with architectural and botanical nature research projects, a collectively curated construction that guides a visual, poetic, and, at the same time, practical foray into the complexity of man’s relationships with the planetary flora.
Starting from the nourishing, healing role, magical, mythical attributes, symbolic imagination or use in different aspects of life, from clothing, architecture, or pharmaceutical products, the exhibition is divided into four sections, inspired by pop culture, the common understanding thus: useful, poisonous, aphrodisiac and ritual plants. Current botanical taxonomies are intermingled in this visual micro-anthropology of contemporary flora.
The exhibition becomes a space for reflection, learning, and unlearning of man’s relationship with plant nature. What is nature? How do we think about botanical nature? What place do plants have in our lives? What role do we have in their lives?
“Ecologiile grijii și îngrijirii ” starts from a series of questions about the relationship between man and botanical nature, revealed from the homonymy of the word care.
The section dedicated to utilitarian plants in the complexity of human relations with plant nature reveals mechanisms by which nature is imagined, used, consumed, and destroyed at the service of humanity. Plants ensure the breathing of the ecosystem of which we are a part. This living shell of the earth’s crust has been transformed into a seemingly limitless resource exploited for human survival.
The utility of plants relates to all aspects of human life, from food, clothing, housing, and physical and mental health. The plants that cover and feed us breathe with us, or delight our eyes are the raw material that provides the basis of our existence. Coexistence with botanical nature is indispensable to life, while human consumption habits endanger the life cycles of plants.
The project proposes a formative, educational approach, being a context of extensive collaboration between artists, architects, and master students in the fields of horticulture and landscaping following three exhibitions, which will be organized in three galleries in Bucharest in September 2023: Strata, Mobius, Leilei, and two interventions in the Bucharest Botanical Garden, alongside conferences, workshops and walks collaboratively curated by Gabriela Mateescu, together with researchers Valentina Iancu (visual arts), Eliza Yokina (architecture), Prof. univ. Dr. Mihaela Ioana Georgescu (botany).
Artists: Horia Bernea, Nicolae Comănescu, Hortensia Mi Kafchin, Andreea Medar and Mălina Ionescu, Gabriela Mateescu, Diana Miron, Liliana Mercioiu, Ana Maria Micu, Roman Tolici, Iulia Toma, Miki Velciov, with architectural proposals by Beros Abdul Architects, Stardust architects*, Nicolas Triboi, Eliza Yokina. Botanical research by Adrian Mureș – Master’s student at the Faculty of Horticulture in Bucharest, Master’s Program Biodiversity Conservation Management.
Curatorial input: Gabriela Mateescu
Research & curatorial output: Valentina Iancu (visual arts), Eliza Yokina (architecture), Prof. Dr. Mihaela Georgescu (botany), Head of works Dr. Vasilica Luchian (consultancy and herbarium curator)
The exhibition can be visited at STRATA GALLERY (Strada Parângului 76, Bucharest) until September 20, 2023
Guided tours will be organized weekly or by appointment through a message on the event’s Facebook page.
Media partners: Spotmedia, IQ ADS, SMARK, Revista Zeppelin, Revista Arta, Radio Romania Cultural, Modernism.ro, Zile și Nopți, Daily Magazine, Ziarul Metropolis, Feeder, DigitizArte, Revista Atelierul, Munteanu, Igloo, Empower Artists Magazine, HAPP , Propargarta, Radio Romania International, Book Agency, The Woman, curatorial.ro, Răsfoiala, Morning Edition.
“Ecologies of Care and Care” is a project co-funded by AFCN. The project does not necessarily represent the position of the National Cultural Fund Administration. AFCN is not responsible for the project’s content or how the project results may be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the beneficiary of the funding.
