Painting Plants, Rethinking Worlds
- Apr 28
- 3 min read
PODCAST INTERVIEW FOR WISSENSART
Painting Plants, Thinking Worlds: Tactics for Peace Negotiations
I had the opportunity to take part in an inspiring online interview for the WissensArt Podcast in their podcast series “Art in Conversation,” where artists who have been inspired by their collaboration with Austrian Cultural Forums and embassies are featured every two weeks.
In this recent conversation, I was invited to speak about my work—particularly my ongoing engagement with plant painting. At first glance, this might sound like a return to something traditional, even decorative. But for me, it is quite the opposite.
My work with plants is not about illustrating nature. It is about questioning how we relate to it.
Why Plants?
For my exhibition at the Austrian Cultural Forum in Rome, I turned to what is traditionally called flower painting. It sounds gentle, almost nostalgic. But when we look more closely, a socio-political dimension begins to emerge.
Under the title “The Plant. Memory and Us,” I presented 30 paintings that draw on the tradition of historical florilegia—the richly detailed plant books of the Renaissance. These works are not simply aesthetic objects; they are reflections on the ecological challenges of our time.
In this project, I ask how plants, memory, and human coexistence are interconnected—and what we can learn from these relationships in order to cultivate a more peaceful way of living: with ourselves, with others, and with the environment.
As Teresa Indjein, director of the Austrian Cultural Forum in Rome, noted, the exhibition resonates with fundamental concerns: the protection and appreciation of nature, an open and attentive perception of the other, and compassion grounded in the awareness of our own vulnerability—alongside a deeply felt, yet often elusive, desire for peace.
Art as Meaning
I do not believe in art as something purely aesthetic or detached from reality. My approach could be described as l’art pour le sens—art for meaning, rather than art for art’s sake.
This perspective informs not only my painting, but also my conceptual work and collaborations, such as the Calliope – Join the Dots project of the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Across these contexts, I am interested in how art can create connections, foster empathy, and open new ways of understanding.
Alongside the exhibition, a catalogue was published in Italian and German, including my reflections on the ecofeminist and posthumanist positioning of my work. It also features a commemorative image dedicated to the Roman fashion designer Valentino Garavani, depicted through the motif of the scabious flower.
Beyond the Human Perspective
A central aspect of my thinking is moving beyond a purely human-centered worldview.
Concepts such as ecofeminism and posthumanism encourage us to rethink hierarchies and to understand humans as part of a shared, interconnected system. This shift in perspective affects how we approach responsibility, coexistence, and ultimately, the possibility of peace.
Through my work, I am not trying to give answers. I am trying to open spaces.
Spaces for reflection, for awareness, and for new forms of coexistence.
If my paintings can shift—even slightly—how we see the world, then they have fulfilled their purpose.
Closing Thoughts
What may appear as something quiet—painting plants—is, for me, deeply connected to urgent questions of our time.
Art does not need to be loud to be powerful. Sometimes, it begins with simply looking more closely.
Go over to Spotify and listen to it here:
If you enjoyed what you heard, please consider subscribing to their podcast.
FURTHER DATES TO MARK:
A sales exhibition of my work will take place in Vienna in the second and third week of September at Galerie Mana.
In addition, I will be exhibiting at the ECC Venice Biennale at Palazzo Mora on May 9, 2026, from 10 am to 6 pm.
++ Many thanks to
WissensArt
demedarts
FWF (AR-609 PEEK)
Comments