The possession of Touch, A post-colonial inquiry of invasive species

The Possession of Touch, A Post-Colonial Inquiry of Invasive Species develops from a selection of plants native to Colonial territories, which bear the names of European figures (politicians, scientists, scholars) as part of their scientific nomenclature (i.e. Gunnera Scabra ? A nowadays invasive plant named after Johan Ernst Gunnerus [1718-1773], a Norwegian clergyman).

Many of these plants were imported to Europe in small portable greenhouses called Wardian Cases, and some have become invasive species that pose a threat to local biodiversity; critically reinforcing the environmental transformations caused by climate change.
These species not only portray and reproduce colonial ecocide horror, but are also a silent and delayed aftermath of an invasion that similarly took place in remote conquered lands. They are here because we were there, and they have come whispering the very name of our own ancestors.

During his stay at LMNO?s residence, Miguel Sbastida focus his research on the invasive flora of Belgian territories - which is the country of Europe with the highest rate of reported invasive species. Departing from these ideas he will develop a series of bidimensional works inspired in the engraving representations of plants, which will include information of the history of the plant?s name origin, its native regions, and its invasive status. Parallel to these bidimensional works, the project will include a series of sculptures inspired in the original Wardian Cases used during the 18th century to move plants around the world, which will be activated by using them to remove invasive plants from local environments.