Travelling Plants Kolkata

The exhibition will be opened on Friday, 06 September 2024 at 5.30 pm.

Can plants travel? And how? The grown plant is rooted in the soil and therefore cannot travel, the seeds however can. And there are numerous ways for the seeds to travel - by wind, water, animals and by humans.

This exhibition explores how plants travelled due to human intervention, for aesthetic, political and economic reasons. In tracing some remarkable journeys of travelling plants in this exhibition, the exhibition uncovers a tapestry of interconnected histories that highlight the enduring bond between nature and humanity. Plants have not only shaped our environments but have also enriched our lives, reminding us of the ongoing exchange between the natural world and human innovation. Reflecting on their legacy, the exhibition encourages one to appreciate the delicate balance of ecosystems and the impact of our global interactions, inviting one to be thoughtful stewards of the living world we share.

The exhibition is the culmination of a transdisciplinary, multiphase project led by Goethe-Institut Chennai in collaboration with Alliance Française of Madras, and Institut Français de Pondichéry (IFP). Beginning with a residency centered around the Herbarium at IFP in March 2024, ‘Travelling Plants’ brings together works of Indian and international artists selected for their creative practices intersecting with the natural world.

Curated by Lina Vincent, the exhibition showcases artistic observations, learnings and investigations into varied sociocultural, political, ecological and environmental concerns, offering unique perspectives at the intersection of science, nature and art. The artists include Karolina Grzywnowicz (Germany), Wendy Therméa (Reunion Island, France), Waylon D’souza (India), and Rashmimala (India).

In Kolkata, the exhibition is being presented at Indian Museum in collaboration with the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) which presents three collections from their archives, namely, the economic plants portraits, a selection of 19th-20th century correspondences between scientists from India and Europe around trading plants in the colonial period and a selection of 19th century Botanical paintings famously known as the company paintings. The sections from BSI are compiled by the experts of the institute.

The exhibition is initiated by Goethe-Institut and presented in collaboration with Indian Museum, Ministry of Culture, Government of India and Botanical Survey of India, Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.

Open to all