⚠️ Artists across India
In Fall 2026, I’ll be undertaking an artist residency in Bengaluru. During or shortly after this time, I would love to meet and exchange with artists based in India—locally or across other regions—who work with plants (fibers, pigments, etc.) or engage in ecocentric or ecological practices. Feel free to reach out if this resonates with you.
AUTUMN 2026
Root-Based Textiles: A Co-creation Approach Between Humans and Plants in the Visual Arts
Vidyashilp University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, INDIA
Artistic Intent
Human beings tend to adopt a dominant posture towards other forms of life. Where does this attitude originate? Does it stem from an intrinsically dominant position, or from a cultural and social construction that leads humans to position themselves as such? From this perspective, how might one conceive of relational modes grounded in greater equality among species, particularly with regard to plants, while recognising their potential agency?
Within the field of visual arts, plants have long occupied a significant place, primarily as motifs or materials. However, when considered through the lens of their agency, they may also be understood as possessing capacities for action and interaction that enable their inclusion in the artistic process as full-fledged participants, or even as collaborators or co-creators. This raises the question: is a creative interrelationship between the human artist and the plant conceivable? What conditions would enable the effective integration and meaningful involvement of plants in the creation of an artwork, without reducing their role to that of mere resources? Furthermore, what responsibilities must humans assume in order to avoid reproducing a dominant posture?
Finally, in situations where humans find themselves, despite their intentions, in a position of dominance—particularly when they engage in practices such as gathering, sowing, and harvesting—through what modalities can they act in a manner that is respectful and ethically grounded?