2014 0019 joão modé: land
june 14— july 13, 2014
viewable 24 hours
Land is a composed structure of plants simulating a wild mythical forest. For the duration of the exhibition the entire facade of die raum will be removed to reveal a wild mixture of plants of diverse origin; a spiky cactus paired with a luscious ficus standing next to red currant bushes normally associated with European home gardening. The compilation of plants are chosen not only for their botanical diversity and aesthetic character, but also for their cultural value, their smell and their taste. The installation works as a displaced “multicultural” 5 m3 biotope with a tiny path in the middle that encourages the viewer toward a close encounter with (if not total absorption in) the greenery that might lead to mysterious findings.
Land acts to represent “the other”: not only via the obvious demonstration of nature versus culture as a living organism contained by a concrete purpose-built exhibition space — but — as time passes and the roots entangle — “the difference” becomes embodied within the collective structure itself.
Modé’s installation for die raum is the latest outcome of a poetic practise of subtle interventions with a strong emphasis on details and a heightened sense of temporality.
With special thanks to Botanischer Volkspark Pankow and Dorit Müller
