"Rooted" 2023

(organic mixed media, oil and acrylic on calicot canvas and sound, variable dimensions)

Amidst the ruins of Asiat Park, Maria Muehombo appropriates a dilapidated roof as a lush suspended garden. The roots, stems and leaves of various plants, both local and exotic, climb and crawl around the steel structures, meeting each other in dense nests. These nests, equally made from organic materials, convey intimate shelters, reminding us of our origins and dependence on the natural world. The installation also features expressive abstract landscapes on raw canvas. Explosions of colour hint at the cyclical rhythm of the different seasons.

As more and more people move into cities, and our quotidian habitat is increasingly urbanised, our proximity and care for nature continues to diminish. By creating a temporary green sanctuary in the urban landscape of Asiat in which human and natural energies are aligned, Maria invites us to reflect on the relationship we hold with our natural environment.