Unit 2
🔘 archive project 🔘 ‘‘Wax casts of hands’’ workshop 🔘 artists
Archive project
In our archive course, we have come together due to our shared interest in nature. I, along with my fellow students Jenny and Lily from the same programme and Zhuoer from the photography programme, have formed an interdisciplinary team. Our research focuses on deeply exploring the diversity and richness of plant archives and the scientific, artistic, and cultural values embedded within them. We aim to understand how plants have been represented and interpreted across different historical periods and cultural contexts.
Under the guidance of our tutor, we have decided to visit the Linnean Society of London. Our focus will be on examining the plant forms, structures, ecological environments, and the ways artists have observed and depicted plants in these archives. We will also examine how these works influenced the scientific and artistic developments of their time. By analysing and studying these archives, we hope to combine our professional knowledge to express nature through the visual arts.
• Field Archive Investigation: Visiting the Linnean Society of London to gain a firsthand understanding of the preservation and presentation of plant archives.
The Linnean Society of London, founded in 1788, is one of the oldest biological societies in the world. Named after the renowned Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus, the society is dedicated to the study and dissemination of natural history. The Linnean Society houses extensive collections of botanical, zoological, and mineral specimens, as well as a vast array of scientific and artistic archives. During our scheduled session, the curator presented four plant archives for us to examine. Below, you'll find the specific archives we studied:
• Documentation and Organization：We meticulously document each piece of information we collect and systematically categorize it.
"Smith‘s Flora Britannica" (1800-1804)
- "Smith‘s Flora Britannica" was written by the British botanist James Edward Smith and is considered a groundbreaking work in the field of botany. Smith was a renowned botanist and plant taxonomist during the late 18th and early 19th centuries and was one of the founders of the Linnean Society of London. His work in collecting, describing, and classifying plants had a profound impact on the development of botany during that time. The Reverend Richard Dreyer created pencil and watercolor illustrations for the book in 1817, showcasing his meticulous drawing style and attention to plant details.
- This botanical treatise meticulously records the plants of Britain at that time, including those from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It categorizes and describes plants based on different geographical regions or plant species, documenting the classification, characteristics, ecology, and distribution of local plants. The illustrations are exquisite, combining scientific accuracy with artistic beauty.
"Impressions of Tropical Leaves" (1843)
- "Impressions of Tropical Leaves" is a collection of natural prints created by John B. Stair and published in 1843. Stair, a missionary residing in Samoa, utilized his observations and understanding of the local flora to create this unique collection of natural prints.
- This work records tropical plants by directly printing the leaves, showcasing the natural forms of the plants. Compared to the traditional drawing methods in the previous work, this direct printing technique is more true to the real characteristics of the plants, revealing the textures and details of the leaves. Through this method, we gain a more intuitive understanding of the appearance of tropical plants.
"Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions" (1843-53)
- "Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions" is a collection created by British botanist Anna Atkins between 1843 and 1853. It is the first botanical book to utilize photography as a medium, marking a significant milestone in the history of photography.
- Anna Atkins utilized the cyanotype photographic technique to document British algae. This process involved placing plant samples on paper treated with light-sensitive chemicals, exposing them to sunlight, and then washing the paper to remove the unexposed parts, leaving behind deep blue impressions. The blue and white impressions created by the cyanotype process highlight the natural softness and fluidity of the algae, giving the impression that the plants are swaying gracefully in water. By closely examining the details and elegance of these tiny organisms, we feel as if we are immersed in an underwater world, experiencing the unique charm and vitality of algae.
"Sketches of Flora"
- "Sketches of Flora" is a series of botanical sketches created by William Herbert K. Martin, a botanist and illustrator.
- These sketches document his detailed observations and in-depth studies of plants, showcasing their anatomical structures, growth habits, and various subtle characteristics. Through his drawings, Martin presents the true appearance of the plants.
• Computational Art Experiment (Innovative Archive Construction)：Utilizing computational tools and artistic methods, we conduct creative experiments and digital reconstructions of plant archives.
During the research process, I realized that the decolonization of archives is an important topic. Decolonization involves re-examining and transforming the cultural and knowledge systems that were colonized and oppressed historically, ensuring their fair and respectful representation in the contemporary context. As a long-established institution, the Linnean Society's archives and collections inevitably contain traces of the colonial era.
Advancements in digital technology have significantly improved the accessibility and transparency of archives, offering new possibilities for the democratization of marginalized voices. With the digitization of archives, people can access and share information more easily, free from the constraints of physical space and time. This increased visibility for marginalized communities' voices, and histories help break the traditional power monopoly on information and promotes multicultural expression and exchange.
In our 3D course, we planed to use 3D scanning to meticulously and realistically document trees, flowers, stones, and ourselves in the park. We will then import these 3D models into Blender, incorporating the concept of the "archival turn." Through our observations, creativity, and digital tools, we created complete scenes that present and preserve collective memories in a new and innovative way. By reconstructing and showcasing our own plant archives, we aim to create a layered and immersive environment. This innovative digital approach not only enriches and diversifies the archives, providing new ways of appreciation and understanding but also redefines archives and envisions their future.
In this process, the technology itself does not possess perception or understanding capabilities. However, through digital processing, I present the characteristics and forms of objects in a non-human way, revealing subtle differences or entirely new visual effects that are imperceptible to humans. This challenges traditional human methods of vision and perception.
Final Video
The video creation is influenced by post-humanism, using a simulated drone camera as the first-person perspective. This provides viewers with an immersive experience, allowing them to deeply appreciate the beauty and details within the scene. The audio component features nature-themed poetry that describes the beauty of nature, adding an additional layer of interest to the video.