How do we acquire our knowledge of nature? Who describes, collects, and classifies plants, and which perspectives remain invisible in the process?
This short presentation ties in with the exhibition “The Invention of Nature—Illustrated Nature Books from Pliny to Humboldt” at the Historical Library in Rastatt. It complements the exhibition by offering a look at the connection between natural history and the production of knowledge.
The focus is on three photographs from the performance “Transplant: Healing in the Mapuche Diaspora through the Pewen” (2025–2026) by Neyen Pailamilla. They are complemented by a video work that depicts the performance.
The starting point is the pewen (Araucaria araucana), a tree sacred to the Mapuche people of the Andes. While it is often known in Europe as an ornamental plant, for Chile’s largest indigenous group it symbolizes memory, community, and the close connection between people, nature, and the land.
The photographs explore experiences of migration, home, and belonging. They demonstrate that plants are not merely part of nature or subjects of scientific research, but also bearers of history, knowledge, and cultural significance.
This short presentation ties in with the exhibition “The Invention of Nature—Illustrated Nature Books from Pliny to Humboldt” at the Historical Library in Rastatt. It complements the exhibition by offering a look at the connection between natural history and the production of knowledge.
The focus is on three photographs from the performance “Transplant: Healing in the Mapuche Diaspora through the Pewen” (2025–2026) by Neyen Pailamilla. They are complemented by a video work that depicts the performance.
The starting point is the pewen (Araucaria araucana), a tree sacred to the Mapuche people of the Andes. While it is often known in Europe as an ornamental plant, for Chile’s largest indigenous group it symbolizes memory, community, and the close connection between people, nature, and the land.
The photographs explore experiences of migration, home, and belonging. They demonstrate that plants are not merely part of nature or subjects of scientific research, but also bearers of history, knowledge, and cultural significance.
