Glowing plastic spores come from invasive vines in Mika Rottenberg’s “Violent Material”
When toxic materials enter the ecosystem, it can cause damage to existing life. For example, the bittersweet grapes from upstate New York were brought to the area in the second half of the 19th century to fight erosion and curved woody beauty. These are mainly from East Asia, and these toxic plants quickly become aggressive, suffocating other specimens and even pulling up trees.
For Mika Rottenberg, there is another substance that falls into this category: plastic. Just as the bittersweet vines occupy the forest crowds near her studio, plastic penetrates countless systems, from the ocean to our houses to the depths of our own bodies.
In Hauser & Wirth’s video, Rottenberg discusses how both materials become the basis for a new work. On the Menorca location in the gallery Vibrant substance It is the first solo show for an Argentine artist in Spain and displays a series of glowing fungal sculptures that fuse both toxins.
“I’ve always been working with forces of nature to see art as something you grow and harvest,” Rotenberg said. When she started thinking about “the footprint of the studio,” she shifted her focus to invasive vines in nearby forests, laundry cans and other sales from bins and local recycling centers.
From spores spores on the base and hanging from the gallery ceiling, their vibrant plastic tops add a surreal veil to the main organic form. These lampshadeas the artist says, even if this harmful substance is incorporated into our lives, humans’ lasting tendency toward toxicity puts us at risk.
Lovenberg has long been interested in the rampant consumption and capitalism. In addition to a few video installations, the sculpture works Vibrant substance Promotes issues regarding the necessity of agents and regeneration.
She added: “I’m interested in these artificial systems where the starting point doesn’t know what’s really going on and tries to impose some kind of logic on things and madness.”
Vibrant substance As of October 26.
