Untitled: Labels that Melt
Multi-media installation rooted in environmental ethics.
Year
January - June 2024
Tools & Skills
3D Printing
Moulding
Welding
Creative Thinking
Artist Statement
Plant labels typically convey standardised names and taxonomic classifications. Yet within these fixed representations, living ecosystems are reduced to static, two-dimensional descriptions that often romanticise rather than reveal.
This project reimagines labels and the ritual of 'naming' as evolving forms of communication rather than fixed claims of ownership. Using sensorial language, the labels catalogue overlooked aspects of Culpeper Garden—its textures, movements, scents, sounds—capturing dimensions that conventional taxonomy ignores.
Mirroring nature's impermanence, the labels are made of ice. Installed during the spring equinox, they slowly dissolve as the garden warms: a celebration of seasonal cycles, blooming renewal, and the transient nature of observation itself.
Exhibition photos
These labels persist through a cyclical process: collecting rainwater, freezing it into ice labels, and observing as they melt away. The ongoing dialogue of labelling becomes the responsibility of those who shape the garden environment, reflecting an understanding and appreciation of the concealed, often overlooked elements of nature with which we coexist.
Meticulous creation and thoughtful placement ensure the work integrates seamlessly into Culpeper Garden, reflecting its inner workings and design. The labels unveil hidden interactions between the natural world and the garden community, recognising both as co-creators of the garden's ecosystem.
