The botanical mind : art, mysticism and the cosmic tree / edited by Gina Buenfeld and Martin Clark.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Buenfeld, Gina, editor.

Clark, Martin, 1976- editor.

Camden Arts Centre, host institution.

Anne and Joseph Trachtman Memorial Book Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Plants in art--Exhibitions.

Plants in art.

Plants--Social aspects--Exhibitions.

Plants.

Mysticism in art--Exhibitions.

Mysticism in art.

Plants--Social aspects.

Genre:

Exhibition catalogs.

Physical Description:

232 pages : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 24 cm

Other Title:

Art, mysticism and the cosmic tree

Place of Publication:

London : Camden Art Centre, [2020]

Summary:

Humanity's place in the natural order is under scrutiny as never before, held in a precarious balance between visible and invisible forces: from the microscopic threat of a virus to the monumental power of climate change. Drawing on indigenous traditions from the Amazon rainforest; alternative perspectives on Western scientific rationalism; and new thinking around plant intelligence, philosophy and cultural theory, The Botanical Mind Online investigates the significance of the plant kingdom to human life, consciousness and spirituality across cultures and through time. It positions the plant as both a universal symbol found in almost every civilisation and religion across the globe, and the most fundamental but misunderstood form of life on our planet. This new online project has been developed in response to the COVID-19 crisis and the closure of our galleries due to the pandemic. 'The Botanical Mind: Art, Mysticism and The Cosmic Tree' was originally conceived as a trans-generatio nal group exhibition, but has been postponed. In the meantime, we have launched this complimentary online programme of new artist commissions, podcasts, films, texts, images and audio, expanding on and enriching the ideas and issues informing the show over at botanicalmind.online ... During this period of enforced stillness, our behaviour might be seen to resonate with plants: like them we are now fixed in one place, subject to new rhythms of time, contemplation, personal growth and transformation. Millions of years ago plants chose to forego mobility in favour of a life rooted in place, embedded in a particular context or environment. The life of a plant is one of constant, sensitive response to its environment - a process of growth, problem-solving, nourishment and transformation, played out at speeds and scales very different to our own. In this moment of global crisis and change there has perhaps never been a better moment to reflect on and learn from them.--https://camdenartcentre .org/the-botanical-mind-online

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Published to accompany an exhibition originally planned to be held at Camden Art Centre, London, 24 September-23 December 2020.

Contributors include: Adam Chodzko, C. G. Jung, Delfina Muñoz de Toro, Bruce Conner, Ithell Colquhoun, Hilma af Klint, Wolfgang Paalen, Brion Gysin, Philip Taaffe, Giorgio Griffa, Linder, Andre Masson, Karl Blossfeldt, Anna Atkins, Joachim Koester, Josef Albers, Emma Kunz, Matt Mullican, Simon Ling, Annie Bessant & Charles Leadbeater, John McCracken, Jordan Belson, Carol Bove, Andrea Büttner, Cerith Wyn Evans, Forest Bess, Penny Slinger, Fred Tomaselli, Lee Ufan, and others.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Anne and Joseph Trachtman Memorial Book Fund.

ISBN:

9781907208942

1907208941

OCLC:

1223498735