Plants in/as Art
Collaboration and Co-Creation
Wednesday, 11 December 2024, 3–5pm Helsinki Time (Zoom)
Christa Sommerer and Laurent Mignonneau, Interactive Plant Growing. Interactive computer installation. 1992. Photo: ©Sommerer & Mignonneau
Download the seminar flyer here.
Join distinguished artists Rachel Marks, Christa Sommerer, and Mauricio Tolosa for Plants in/as Art: Collaboration and Co-Creation, on 11 December 2024, from 3-5pm Helsinki, Finland time. The online seminar will introduce participants to contemporary interactive art in which plants participate and contribute as creative agents in their own right.
Rachel Marks will speak on ‘Symfolia’
This presentation will discuss the aspects of time, light, sound, colour, and community that inform the recent installation Symfolia (2024). Symfolia is a monumental art installation created by the artist Rachel Marks with the support of the Philharmonie de Paris and the Inspired by KM association. As part of the Cultural Olympiad, the work was exhibited at the Cité de la Musique from June 1 to September 8, 2024. A grandiose tree in the universal language of is music entirely created from recycled books and music scores donated by the public. Symfolia celebrates the diversity of our culture and civilization in relationship to nature.
The installation reveals the history of our humanity, with five rings that links the landscapes and traditions of each continent of the world with a family of musical instruments. These aligned trunks are part of the same tree: the roots, our origins that bring us together, with tree shoots growing from these thrones, a symbol of rebirth, the cycle and metamorphosis: the power of nature and our role in its evolution. This project was participatory, inviting and bringing together more than 10,000 people to discover the creative process, and to reflect on their place and their relationship with others and with our beautiful planet: https://rachel-marks.com/index.php/portfolio/symfolia/
Christa Sommerer will speak on ‘The Art of Human to Plant Interaction’
In 1992, Christa Sommerer and Laurent Mignonneau were the first artists to use living plants as interfaces for human-computer interaction. With their installation Interactive Plant Growing, they introduced the concept of human-plant interfaces, at a time when most human-computer interaction was done through keyboards, joysticks, mice, trackers, head mounted displays, data gloves, or other heavy and cumbersome technical devices. Sommerer and Mignonneau’s artistic objective was to create a link between humans and plants and thereby challenge our relationship to the vegetal world through an artistic and engaging experience. This presentation will touch on early and recent works of interactive plant art.
Mauricio Tolosa will speak on ‘Co-creative Practices to Mend Bonds with Kingdom Plantae’
How can humans mend their relationship with plants and reintegrate into the fabric of Life through co-creative practices? This journey began without a specific purpose or predefined method, embracing a fluid and organic approach that welcomed the invitation from plants. Through co-creation with plants, various creative practices emerged, deepening the connection with Kingdom Plantae. These experiences transformed my identity and worldview, sketching new paradigms of respect and integration into the Fabric of Life.
To register, please send an email to <sentientforestproject@gmail.com> by Monday, 9 December 2024 at 5pm Helsinki time.
ABOUT OUR PRESENTERS
Rachel Marks is an American artist and dancer living and working in Paris. Rachel has recently had her monumental installation SYMFOLIA on view at the Cité de la Musique for the Olympic Cultural Program for Paris 2024. Rachel is also a tenure professor at Parsons Paris. For more information, see https://rachel-marks.com/
Christa Sommerer is an internationally renowned media artist, researcher and pioneer of interactive art whose work often involves plants as participants. Together with Laurent Mignonneau, she has created around 40 interactive artworks, shown in around 350 international exhibitions: www.interface.ufg.ac.at/christa-laurent
Mauricio Tolosa was born in the Chilean Patagonia. He is an author, writer, photographer, communicologist, and gardener who has been co-creating with plants for the last decade. Mauricio shares his discoveries through books, poetry, videos, workshops, and conferences. His work focuses on mending bonds with Kingdom Plantae and reintegrating humans into the Fabric of Life: www.mauriciotolosa.com
