What's in the 'Fruiture'?
Since childhood, Janneke have been in love with greenhouses, particularly those in botanical gardens. The stark contrast between the warm climate inside the greenhouse and the Dutch weather transports you to a different environment. Throughout time people have tried bringing different parts of the world closer, but how to do that sustainably and responsibly?
Inside the Wardian cases porcelain scale models made using the wheel throwing technique and fruit-shaped moulds are nested between the greenery. They imagine a future space of architecture within architecture.
The glass domes are constructed out of stained glass using the copper foil technique. The 'crib' of the nurseries was made by repurposing textiles from the base of the trolley.
The Wardian Case
After Philip Franz von Siebold was banished from Japan by the shogun, he transported an immense collection of live plants from Japan. One of the plants that Siebold brought was Fallopia japonica, or Japanese knotweed. In a Wardian case, a mobile glasshouse, these plants were transported from his home in Batavia to Leiden. Together with the knotweed, Siebold transported other species like magnolia (named after Siebold) and Japanese maple. Back in Europe he cultivated these plants and sold them as ornamental plants for western gardens.
Read more about how Japanese Knotweed came to Europe
About the Artist
Janneke de Lange is a designer who graduated from Design Academy Eindhoven. Her creative journey intertwines a profound love for nature with a commitment to pioneering design. Janneke's design philosophy is grounded in the intrinsic qualities of materials, a harmonious dance between tradition and innovation. Adopting a hands-on approach within carefully defined conceptual frames, she establishes rules and boundaries at the project's outset, fostering a creative environment that breaks free from constraints.
In Janneke de Lange's hands, each project stands as a testament to the delicate equilibrium between creativity and the natural world. Her work invites viewers to step into enchanting realms where art and nature harmoniously converge, offering a glimpse into the perfect harmony between imagination and the world around us.
Japanese Knotweed Festival
This exhibition is part of the Japanese Knotweed Festival. A recurring festival in which we explore our cultural relationship with plants.
Mediamatic organizes a festival every spring around Japanese knotweed, a fast-growing plant known in Europe for its intrusive properties. What many do not know, however, is that this plant species has a host of positive properties. During this festival, we explore how to live in harmony with this controversial plant.
