Art Design
#farming #installation #light #plants #sustainability
January 22, 2021
Grace Ebert
Spread across a dense field of leeks in the Netherlands, is the new installation by Daan Roosegaarde that illuminates the practice of modern agriculture, highlighting the plants that feed us and their plight. In “Grow”, the Dutch artist and designer, known for interactive and brilliant exhibitions, implanted the lines with red, blue and ultraviolet lights that shine vertically in the culture and change in fascinating movements.
Spanning 20,000 square meters, the multifaceted design is both aesthetic and practical: the radiant landscape is visually stunning, while the built-in elements increase plant growth and cut pesticide use in half. Roosegaarde worked with the existing photobiological technology and different “light recipes” that were thought to improve the resistance of cultures and their metabolisms without adding chemicals. “This gives a new meaning to the word ‘agriculture’ by reformulating the landscape as a work of living cultural art,” the studio said in a statement.
Speaking to Dezeen, Roosegaarde noted that a trip to a local farm boosted the project, which the designer now hopes will serve as a model for similar works. The Netherlands is the second largest agricultural exporter in the world – the USA is the first – and is known for innovating in more sustainable technologies. With some changes in the combination of lights and positioning, this unique project may have far-reaching implications for agricultural production worldwide.
“Grow” took Roosegaarde’s studio about two years to complete and is part of Rabobank’s artistic residency program. He is scheduled to tour 40 countries in the coming months. For more works by Roosegaarde that fall into the intersection of art, design and science, go to Instagram.
All images © Daan Roosegaarde, shared with permission
#farming #installation #light #plants #sustainability
Are stories and artists like that important to you? Become a Colossal Member and support the publication of independent arts. Join a community of like-minded readers who are passionate about contemporary art, help support our series of interviews, gain access to partner discounts and more. Log in!