ART, GARDENING & DECOLONISATION

Finally got to the "Composting Colonialism: Towards the Radical Garden" exhibition in the Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray, Co. Wicklow. The group exhibition includes work in various media by Irish, Spanish and British artists. "Imbued with notions of displacement, class, exile, invasion, appropriation, theft and hunger, the history of gardening and horticulture on the island of Ireland and beyond contains the very recipe of colonisation, from the plantations of both people and forests to the introduction of monoculture food and cash crops." Here are two installations I particularly liked: Siobhan McGibbon's MAKING ODD: A GOAT, A BEE, A PSYLLID, FUNGUS, KNOTWEED AND ME (stitched shibori, Japanese knotweed, nettle and montbretia plant dye, thistle, Old Man's Beard, ground elder, cotton, latex, unreal clay) and Elida Maiques' BIOMULCH JACKET (SEEDED), agricultural fabric, open-pollinated Irish and naturalised seeds, plant-dyed wool yarn, hemp thread, wooden hanger, paper and watercolour. You can see the wonderful rest of them up to October 4, this week. #Irishart #Wicklow #colonisation #radicalgardening