NON-NATIVE PLANTS
INVASION & BELONGING
The project calls for a departure from the binary designation which considers plants as “native” or “non-native”, but instead as agents with unique roles, relationships, and evolutionary adaptations. By shifting the focus to what plants do rather than their origin, the project challenges rigid definitions and encourages a more nuanced, ecologically integrative perspective.
Visual Research | Upperville, VA
Interdisciplinary Residency at Oak Spring Garden Foundation
This project investigates the discourse surrounding invasive plants, focusing on their representation, narrative, and potential to shape speculative future ecosystems. During my residency at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, I explored the rich biodiversity of the region, discussed landscape management strategies with the foundation staff, and research divergent approaches to invasive species.
In May 2023, I conducted an initial study of Oak Spring’s grounds, collecting plant specimens for a herbarium and mapping the distribution of key species. February 2024 visit included creation of drawings and subjective and data-driven maps that pair Oak Spring’s local plant ecology with a global understanding of these species’ movement and impact. Through further collaboration with Oak Spring researchers and staff, I seek to deepen my understanding of biodiversity conservation and invasive species management strategies.
The final outcome combines maps, visual materials, and writing to tell a layered story of these cosmopolitan plants—where they come from, where they thrive, and how they interact with their surroundings—highlighting their agency and ecological contributions and suggest potentials for speculative ecosystem.
Work-in-progress