Exhibition: Diana Scherer

Spectrum Crops

Findings in Color

23 Jun 2017
24 Sep 2017

Green leaves are absorbing a rainbow of colours in the greenhouses of Diana Scherer's Spectrum Crops - Findings in Color. How would different wavelengths of light impact the growth of herbs, vegetables and weeds? The inauguration of this fresh new installation takes place on June 23.

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Spectrum Crops - Artist Diana Scherer researches the impact of colour on plant development in her new Spectrum Crops project initiated at Mediamatic. Chiara Barraco

Spectrum Crops

Photosynthesis: the process in plants that turns sunlight into chemical energy. It influences the shape, structure and colour of plants and explains why fauna in the tropics is often green and plentiful and turns yellow and sparse when placed in the dark. But what would happen if they are cultivated in the light of a specific colour? Do blue-grown herb leaves look different from orange ones? And will bushes standing in yellow light hold more fruit than those from a violet world?

Artist Diana Scherer researches the impact of coloured light on plant development in her new Spectrum Crops project initiated at Mediamatic.

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Diana Scherer testing Spectrum Crops - Artist Diana Scherer researches the impact of colour on plant development in her new Spectrum Crops project initiated at Mediamatic. Chiara Barraco

About the artist

Diana Scherer is an Amsterdam-based German artist who explores the relationship man has with his natural environment and his desire to control nature. 

For the past few years, Scherer has been fascinated by plant processes that operate below the ground and are considered to be the ‘brains’ of the plant. Scherer explores and applies plant intelligence in her work by channeling plant roots systems into geometric patterns to form textile-like materials. During the growth process the roots conform to the man-made patterns and continue to weave and braid themselves.

She is currently collaborating with Radboud University to conduct her research and grow these new materials in the university greenhouses. Her project has recently been awarded with the New Material Fellow Award.

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23-06-2017 Spectrum Crops - installation - Artist Diana Scherer researches the impact of coloured light on plant development in her new Spectrum Crops project initiated at Mediamatic. P hotosynthesis: the process in plants that turns sunlight into chemical energy. It influences the shape, structure and colour of plants and explains why fauna in the tropics is often green and plentiful and turns yellow and sparse when placed in the dark. But what would happen if they are cultivated in the light of a specific colour? Do blue-grown herb… Chiara Barraco

Information

Spectrum Crops: Findings in Color
The installation is open 24/7
Mediamatic Biotoop, Dijkspark 6, 1019 BS, Amsterdam

 

Spectrum Crops - Findings in Color is made possible by Mondriaan Fund.