Ethno-Botanic Resonance

About this event

In partnership with the Liliesleaf Trust UK and PF25 cultural projects, and in collaboration with Chelsea Physic Garden, CREATURE (Centre for Creative Arts, Cultures and Engagement) presents Ethno-Botanic Resonance. It comprises an artist performance and a panel discussion with art and cultural practitioners, a botany specialist, and a social anthropologist, fostering a visual and conceptual dialogue on ethnobotany across diverse cultural landscapes.

Ethno-Botanic Resonance delves into the profound intersection of ethnobotanical knowledge, cultural well-being practices, and the art of Ikebana. Ethnobotanical studies illuminate the global recognition of herbal bathing as a healing practice deeply ingrained in diverse cultures. Emphasising its dual impact on physical and psychological well-being, the narrative unfolds within the historical context of The Wash Houses, the oldest public washing facility in London since 1847. 

Curated by Angelika Li, London-based Hong Kong artist Hedy Leung will embark on a journey through ethnobotanical wisdom, unveiling the interconnectedness of human societies, plant ecosystems, and ancient well-being practices through an Ikebana performance. Weaving a historical entwinement of cultural traditions and botanical insights, the performance elucidates the intrinsic relationship between ethnobotanical knowledge and herbal bathing practices across cultures and time. It explores the shared heritage of botanical wisdom and cultural well-being rituals. Through the integration of medicinal herbs, the performance transcends traditional aesthetic boundaries, offering a contemporary discourse on the ecological and therapeutic aspects of plant life. Collaborating with the Chelsea Physic Garden, Leung meticulously examines each herb for its visual charm and historical-cultural significance in traditional medicine, creating intentional narratives embedded in Ikebana arrangements. 

The Ikebana performance will be followed by a panel discussion, with the artist and the curator, on plant-based healing, migration, trade routes, and colonialism across cultural landscapes from South Africa, East Asia to Europe, and beyond.

Moderator: Professor Wessie Ling is a Professor of Transcultural Arts and Design at the School of Art, Architecture and design at London Met and the Director of CREATURE.

Caroline Kamana is Director of the Liliesleaf Trust UK responsible for the delivery of the Anti-Apartheid Legacy: Centre of Memory and Learning, the UK’s first museum and community hub dedicated to the heritage of anti-apartheid and its contemporary resonances. A heritage and humanities education specialist, she has multiple years’ experience of teaching and curriculum innovation across primary, secondary and tertiary institutions and within cultural heritage sites. An expert facilitator of community engagement through archives and collections, her practice has been set between South Africa and the UK, including at the Constitutional Court of South Africa and for St Paul’s Cathedral, London. 

Hedy Leung is a holistic practitioner and a member of the Sogetsu Teachers' Association and Ikebana International Switzerland (Basel Chapter). Her work explores synergies between humans and nature through sound, plants, and Sogetsu Ikebana. She has participated in art and cultural projects, as well as artist-in-residency programmes in Europe. Besides her artistic practice, she explores energy balancing through BioGeometry Advanced Training. Leung is a certified senior Chinese medicated food dietitian with a bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Diploma in Practical Chinese Medicine Nutritional Studies.

Angelika Li is a Hong Kong curator based in Basel. She is committed to engaging with the essence of places and the connections through culture, heritage, and stories. As the co-founder of PF25 cultural projects, a non-profit organisation bridging Basel and Hong Kong, she actively fosters a continuous dialogue between international communities. Her research focus includes diaspora, identities, colonial ideologies, and healing, showcased in the exhibition series 'Homeland in Transit', channels narratives and imaginations of 'homeland' from Hong Kong perspectives and interweaves them with experiences from around the world. In 2022, she was guest curator for the programme of ‘Brice Marden. Inner Space’ at Kunstmuseum Basel. Angelika holds a BA in History of Art and Architecture from the University of Reading and an MA in Cultural Management from the Chinese University in Hong Kong.

Dr Vibe Nielsen is a social anthropologist with a background in Museum Studies, Modern Culture and European Ethnology, working on issues related to the decolonisation of museums, botanic gardens, and public places. Her recent publications include The Colonial Roots of Botany – Legacies of Empire in the Botanic Gardens of Oxford and Kew (2023, Museum Management and Curatorship) and Diversifying Public. Commemorations in Cape Town and Copenhagen (2023, In: De-Commemoration: Removing Statues and Remaining Places) among many others. She is a Carlsberg Foundation Visiting Fellow at the Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford, with a Junior Research Fellowship at Linacre College.

Venue:

The Wash Houses, London Metropolitan University

25 Old Castle Street
London
E1 7NT
+44 (0)20 7320 3547

Date/Time:

Wednesday 6 March 2024, 5.30-7pm