Companion Planting

Hannah Lees
Rachel Pimm
Andrea Zucchini
Åsa Sonjasdotter
Andreas Sell
Michal Plata
Henry Mulhall
Laura Alabaf
Charles Matthews
with We Spoke
​and Hackuarium
​The Mycological Twist
text by Ros Gray

3 June 2017
Goldsmiths allotment
8 Lewisham Way
Goldsmiths, University of London

'Companion Planting' is an exhibition that explores the intersection of art and ecology in the unique site of Goldsmiths’ allotment. The works reflect upon the notion of permaculture, a term coined in 1978 by Bill Mollison, who described it as “a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of thoughtful observation, rather than thoughtless labour; and of looking at plants and animals in all their functions, rather than treating them as a single product system.”

The title refers to polyculture, one of the principles of permaculture, whereby different species coexist in close proximity, so that their differences can provide a communal habitat for the benefit of all organisms. The artworks come together in this way, interacting with and complementing each other, touching upon ideas of how existence in and with nature may occur. ​