SEPVERKHAGEN/ THE SEPWORK GARDEN
" From Seed to Sim" 2021-22
Loop of Glowing Plant Ash
ABOUT THE PROJECT: "From Seed to Sim" deals with the ability of plants to absorb heavy metals and environmental toxins from contaminated soil using a process known as ‘phytoremediation’. The aim is to show how we humans can collaborate with nature to
reduce the harm caused to the land and environment. Phytoremediation is a process in which specialised plants absorb environmental toxins / heavy metals, stabilising and restoring the natural balance in the soil. Different plants have different ways of extracting these environmental toxins through physiological processes in their roots and tissues. After growth season plants are harvested, dried and burned. The plantash was burned at high temperature at the Institute of Material Sciences, NTNU, Trondheim.
The accumulated metals from the plants were extracted and consists mostly of iron in combination with small amounts of other metals like aluminium and silicon. transformed and elaborated to a micro sculpture.
From Seed to Sim is made in cooperation with Pikene på Broen and is supported by Koro, Art in public space, Barents Cult and Art council Norway. https://www.pikene.no/bar-international/ Many thanks to professor Gabriella Tranell and engineer Nishan Simkhada, at the Institute of Material Sciences and engineering, NTNU, Trondheim
reduce the harm caused to the land and environment. Phytoremediation is a process in which specialised plants absorb environmental toxins / heavy metals, stabilising and restoring the natural balance in the soil. Different plants have different ways of extracting these environmental toxins through physiological processes in their roots and tissues. After growth season plants are harvested, dried and burned. The plantash was burned at high temperature at the Institute of Material Sciences, NTNU, Trondheim.
The accumulated metals from the plants were extracted and consists mostly of iron in combination with small amounts of other metals like aluminium and silicon. transformed and elaborated to a micro sculpture.
From Seed to Sim is made in cooperation with Pikene på Broen and is supported by Koro, Art in public space, Barents Cult and Art council Norway. https://www.pikene.no/bar-international/ Many thanks to professor Gabriella Tranell and engineer Nishan Simkhada, at the Institute of Material Sciences and engineering, NTNU, Trondheim
Extraction of accumulated metals.
TERMINAL B, installation of harvested plants from the Sepwork Garden, Pikene på broen, Kirkenes, October - november, 2021
From industrial wasteland to a temporary park in Kirkenes, June- October 2021
Plantation of 400 plants in cooperation with volunteers. Kindergardens in Kirkenes contribute with sunflowers and singing performances, indian mustard attracts insects. John Andrew Wilhite Hannisdal gives a concert with a sitespecific composistion " Frø/ Seed" at the cultural night of Kirkenes.
From Seed to Sim, part two in Nikel, Russia
coming up??
Nikel in Russia - and Kirkenes in Norway- two border towns in their respective countries, and each with a history of mining
and extraction. The mining industry has been a central presence within the communities here, on both sides of the border, influencing their surroundings and the shared nature in the area. As of today, the industry in Sør-Varanger is no longer in use, and in Nikel the mining operations were decommissioned in December 2020. New thinking is now required to reduce the extent of damage to nature and the environment that has been caused by these extractivist activities. Phytoremediation can help to improve and prevent hazardous environmental damage, showing how the knowledge of plants can help nature reclaim lost territories, while, as a practical ability, it highlights how certain plants are able to return balance to soils.
and extraction. The mining industry has been a central presence within the communities here, on both sides of the border, influencing their surroundings and the shared nature in the area. As of today, the industry in Sør-Varanger is no longer in use, and in Nikel the mining operations were decommissioned in December 2020. New thinking is now required to reduce the extent of damage to nature and the environment that has been caused by these extractivist activities. Phytoremediation can help to improve and prevent hazardous environmental damage, showing how the knowledge of plants can help nature reclaim lost territories, while, as a practical ability, it highlights how certain plants are able to return balance to soils.
Nikel Survivors
The project is in cooperation with Pikene på broen, Barents kult, KORO Art in Publicspace, Kulturrådet Arts council Norway. Thanks to NTNU Norwegian university of Science and Technology, NIBIO Holt Tromsø