Growing histories: Ground Dispersions

Galeria Marta Cervera, Madrid June 19 – July 19, 2024

Growing Histories: Ground Dispersions centers an indoor garden growing in the shape of a map depicting Spain. Our concept rendering emphasizes giant fennel and rye as well as rye contaminated with ergot. There is speculation that the ancient, long extinct, giant fennel was silphium or a close relative, which is documented as a contraceptive in ancient texts by the physicians Dioscorides (the Father of Pharmacognosy, and Soranus of Ephesus (1st century CE), among others.  Claviceps purpurea is an ergot fungus that grows on rye and related cereal and forage plants. There is evidence that midwives in the middles ages used ergot in both abortion and birthing care.  

The indoor garden includes grasses to represent ergot as well as 13 other plants, which are arranged in relation to the regions of Spain, and near its borders where they are native or long naturalized. Information graphics designed by Kadambari Baxi reveal the broader distribution of each herb. Following the plant dispersions near and far, the maps expand beyond Spain and its neighboring countries. Our plant dispersion data comes from the the iNaturalist community, a social network of people sharing biodiversity information. The distributions of the herbs are mapped by participants of iNaturalist so that data is constantly growing. We paralleled these mappings with data on abortion rights internationally.