In order to explore the urban flora of the city of Rio de Janeiro, artists Ines Linke and Louise Ganz collected grasses, bushes, herbs in various locations and points, such as vacant lots, sidewalks, roadsides, beach banks, hills , canals and walls. These collections were taken to professional florists to create arrangements.
Grasses, weeds, bushes, pests – these are all designations of what is considered the most vulgar and ordinary among vegetables. The collection of such plants in urban areas constitutes an archive of incidental vegetation, resistance, coexistence or imposition. The floral arrangement is a symbol of luxury, wealth and celebrations, mainly because it usually includes flowers and plants with high market value, such as rare or exotic plants.
In this project, awarded by the Funarte Women in Visual Arts Award – 2nd edition, the routes were guided along major avenues, such as Avenida Brasil, and several collections took place in the north and west zones of the city, in neighborhoods such as Ramos, Penha, Madureira, Irajá , Deodoro, Realengo, Acarí, among others.
Thislandyourland is a partnership started in 2010 between artists Louise Ganz and Ines Linke, who develop work that relates art, nature and the city. In their projects, they produce images and actions that investigate issues of land use and access, through propositions in different media. The duo of artists exhibits for the first time in Rio de Janeiro.
In this first experience in Rio, a video and a sound installation were shown, as well as eight photographs of arrangements made by Rio florists.
