Although
at first glance the plants in Reena Spaulings Fine Art might appear like ordinary
house plants, on closer inspection they seem to be channeling something darker.
For his solo show “Biscuits and Green Sox Maaike,” Shadi Habib Allah scattered
two dozen or so black pots filled with invasive kudzu vines across
the gallery space. A thin strip of touch-sensitive Fuji paper runs diagonally
across the floor through the pots, lying ready to capture the movement of the
vine (which Southern legend says grows at a rate of 60 mph). This rapid growth is also a
part of the sound installation, though the audio was not playing during my
visit.
Despite these props – the paper and the audio – the growing vines are the
crux of the show. But installed as they are, they aren’t quite delivering the
punch I might expect out of an invasive species that has choked and outcompeted
many of the botanical species of the South. Images of these kudzu monocultures
don’t totally register in the tame, airy, and somewhat static exhibition space.
There is, instead, the feeling that this set-up is temporary, and any growth
ultimately negligible. As I left, I couldn’t help but revert to my initial
impression: that these were ultimately mere house plants, totally within my
control.
This review makes me think more critically about this exhibit. I enjoyed the experience of learning about the history of this plant and imagining having to get a permit for a ‘harmless houseplant’. But you are right the exhibit did fall short of conveying the destructive role this invasive species has played (short of explaining it in the literature). One thing I think that is missing is consideration of the wood sculptures in the exhibit and how they helped or failed in conveying anything. I also think that the sentence “on closer inspection…something darker” contradicts your conclusion that this exhibit was overall ineffective.
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