ExhibitionJanuary 21, 2022
The Intelligence of Plants
Until January 30, 2022, you can visit the exhibition "The Intelligence of Plants," curated by Franziska Nori, at the Frankfurter Kunstverein. This institution works with the belief that "Together, science, philosophy and the arts can combine knowledge to discuss the search for a future direction of social, political and economic life."
"The Intelligence of Plants" presents works that show the relationship between science and art, with the projects of the artists: Berlinde De Bruyckere, Thomas Feuerstein, Marshmallow Laser Feast, Abel Rodriguez, Diana Scherer, Nicola Toffolini; and the institutions: Forschungszentrum Jülich (Institute for Plant Science), Pflanzensoziologisches Institut (Austria). The exhibition intends to be a sounding board for the growing number of voices that see plants as complexly acting living beings, organized in communities, bringing together a selection of artistic approaches, scientific exhibitions, and scientific concepts working towards a new structure of thought.
The exhibition's title at the Frankfurter Kunstverein pays homage to Mancuso's research and book Brilliant Green: The Surprising History and Science of Plant Intelligence (2015, with Alessandra Viola), which caused an international stir and polarization for its definition of plants as intelligent beings. His highly controversial comparison of measurable behaviors with terminology drawn from human social contexts. And yet, his impulses have generated great resonance in consideration of other living beings. Mancuso's scientific experiments on root growth the responses of certain plant species to external influences have reinforced his thesis that these beings have 15 senses through which they interact with the environment. Mancuso argues that because of their sessile nature, they resolve their response to danger in a completely different way than their animal and human peers. This knowledge could enable people today to gain a new awareness of these species, essential to humanity's survival.
The artists invited to "The Intelligence of Plants" at the Frankfurter Kunstverein present projects that demonstrate this new sensitivity to plant life.
"The Intelligence of Plants" presents works that show the relationship between science and art, with the projects of the artists: Berlinde De Bruyckere, Thomas Feuerstein, Marshmallow Laser Feast, Abel Rodriguez, Diana Scherer, Nicola Toffolini; and the institutions: Forschungszentrum Jülich (Institute for Plant Science), Pflanzensoziologisches Institut (Austria). The exhibition intends to be a sounding board for the growing number of voices that see plants as complexly acting living beings, organized in communities, bringing together a selection of artistic approaches, scientific exhibitions, and scientific concepts working towards a new structure of thought.
The exhibition's title at the Frankfurter Kunstverein pays homage to Mancuso's research and book Brilliant Green: The Surprising History and Science of Plant Intelligence (2015, with Alessandra Viola), which caused an international stir and polarization for its definition of plants as intelligent beings. His highly controversial comparison of measurable behaviors with terminology drawn from human social contexts. And yet, his impulses have generated great resonance in consideration of other living beings. Mancuso's scientific experiments on root growth the responses of certain plant species to external influences have reinforced his thesis that these beings have 15 senses through which they interact with the environment. Mancuso argues that because of their sessile nature, they resolve their response to danger in a completely different way than their animal and human peers. This knowledge could enable people today to gain a new awareness of these species, essential to humanity's survival.
The artists invited to "The Intelligence of Plants" at the Frankfurter Kunstverein present projects that demonstrate this new sensitivity to plant life.
Gallery
