What if we only worked on rainy days?  
What if we structured work around female hormonal cycles? 
What if I was only allowed to get out of bed if the clock read an even number? 
 
‘Plant the seed’ is an artwork based around regeneration and rest. At the time of completion I was studying a module about antrhopocentrism, the belief that humans are the apex of the food chain, the most elite organism on the earth. Quite simply the belief that humans are more valuable than other lifeforms. 
 
Maintenance artworks are pieces that promote the care and repair of public spaces. Started by Mierle Laderman Ukeles, a New York based artist, who underwent arduous and often thankless tasks in order to draw attention to those acts. Often of paramount importance, yet viewed as low status work, given to women or low paid workers. 
 
This artwork is an attempt to care for and repair this space, avoided or looked down upon by society. 
Caring for the space itself protests against the increasing inability for much of the population to provide help (financial, environmental or otherwise), it provides visability to an unmet need in society. Nurturing both the place and people who frequent it, it proves that both people and planet can be prioritised. Symbolically the care highlioghts an interaction that is often overlooked in favour of “more important things”. 
 
I was also questioning the neoliberal systems found in ordinary life around us. Many ‘norms’ promote capitalism, anthropocentricism and the destruction of the planet. not to mention greater levels of wealth disparity as we’re told to work more, work harder and increasingly expected to pay to be still, rest and reconnect. 
 
This piece was catalysed by this knowledge, a rejection of our systems in favour of a “back to natural” approach. Taking inspiration from organic forms such as seed pods and the womb, it’s a prototype for a free and accessible regeneration station. Designed for the park that was on the road of my university residence, where there were often a large number of people without homes. Sleeping in tents, beneath trees, and sometimes on open ground. By eventually providing physical ‘pods’ or ‘nests’ it gives a place of comfort and protection where there has been a lack of it. 
 
This was a reimagining of the space to encourage safety and restfulness for anyone who needed to access it. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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