When tasked with imagining a way of connecting the Physic Garden with those unable to reach it in person, artist Rosalie Schweiker wondered if the medicinal plants in the garden could speak to us, what would they say?
If you contact the Physic Garden via WhatsApp, at random times on random days in the weeks that follow, you will receive in return three voice notes, from three different plants: Raspberry (Rubus idaeus), Hawthorn (Crataegus) and Chasteberry (Vitex Agnus-Castus).
The voice notes will be caring, rambling, irritating and everything in between. They will hopefully disrupt your day in a cute way.
You don’t reply to them, it’s a bit like being spammed by a plant who has got the wrong number (difficult to dial with those leaves).
All the plants leaving you voice notes are growing in the Physic Garden and you can meet them there.
To hear from the plants, send a message to the Idle Women Physic Garden or scan the QR code below.
– Deadline to sign up: 10:00 17 September 2024.
– Your number will not be passed on to a third party and will be deleted from Idle Women's records once the artwork is over.
– The voice notes are an artwork and are not medical advice. Please consult a herbalist if you’d like to use these plants and their powers.
– Chasteberry (Vitex Agnus-Castus): Nadia Gilani
– Raspberry (Rubus Idaeus): Jazmin Morris
– Hawthorn (Crataegus Monogyna): Riaz Begum
Rosalie Schweiker is an artist, organiser and designer.
Links
📸 @rosalieschweiker
🕸️ rosalieschweiker.info
Photograph (previous page): Sophie Le Roux