Packaged Nature (project) Original

https://www.luzinterruptus.com/?p=22981

For some time now we have been revising and improving our portfolio with projects that, in most cases, we had already devised some time ago, but that we have detected that they needed a visual improvement, and others that had already been carried out in a modest way and needed to be shown on a larger scale to make them more accessible and attractive.

Today we would like to share «Packaged Nature», a piece that, as usual in our work, seeks to transform urban and exhibition spaces through community collaboration and reflection on the relationship between the natural and the artificial.

It is an evolution of our 2018 intervention, Packaged Garden, carried out in Valencia, which we have imagined on a larger scale and in suspension, without losing its participatory and reflective character.

As in Valencia, the installation invites citizens to be an active part of its creation, contributing recycled plastic containers and plants native to their environment. They do not need to be the most eye-catching, but rather those that are part of their everyday landscape and reflect local biodiversity. Weeds are also welcome.

This collaboration will be articulated through workshops with volunteers to assemble the piece. Our experience has shown us that this process not only enriches the project, but also fosters a sense of belonging and responsibility towards the environment. In addition, we will rely on local plant suppliers and recycling companies, ensuring that the installation is made entirely with local materials and producers.

The participation of children and young people will be particularly welcome, as their involvement fosters environmental awareness and a bond with their environment. Through these activities, children will be able to understand the importance of recycling and the preservation of nature, while developing their creativity and manual skills. Of course, anyone can join in.

To give shape to the installation, a truss structure or light supports will be created that will allow the containers to be suspended at different heights, achieving an enveloping and dynamic effect. Each container will be prepared with water and nutrients, ensuring that the plants are kept alive for a period of time before they begin their natural process of decay.

Lighting will be key: each container will contain a small light inside, either an LED bulb or a stand-alone light source. This detail will highlight the brightness of the water and create a strong contrast with the darkness of the surroundings. In addition, the light will emphasise the texture of the recycled plastic and the fragility of the plants trapped inside, creating the sensation that nature has been contained within the waste.

This work will not be static, but will evolve over time. The plants will wither, grow or decompose depending on the environmental conditions and the time of exhibition. We want this process to be an essential part of the concept, allowing the public to observe the passage of time on the installation and document its transformation. The elements that fall off naturally – dried leaves, petals, branches, roots – will fall to the ground, leaving a visible trace of the cycle of life in contrast to the permanence of the plastic.

«Packaged Nature» will be an open and accessible space for everyone, allowing anyone to walk through the installation freely, interact with it and reflect on the impact of waste on our environment. We want to transform these spaces into living environments, where citizens can stop, contemplate and be part of the experience.

Moreover, thanks to its versatility, it can be installed in museums, galleries and other exhibition spaces. In these environments, the work will establish a dialogue with the neat and aseptic aesthetics of these spaces, introducing recycled plastic as a disruptive element that generates visual tension. The presence of living plants, which will inevitably deteriorate over time, will remind us of the fragility of the natural versus the durability of plastic, raising a reflection on our environmental footprint. We will always try to ensure that the installation is in freely accessible spaces, allowing anyone to enjoy it.

While in open spaces this trace of degradation will serve as a testimony of the natural process, in museum environments it will generate a confrontation with the idea of neatness and control that usually characterise these places.

«Packaged Nature» is an invitation to rethink our common spaces, be they streets, squares, museums or historic buildings. We firmly believe that, through collaboration and creativity, we can transform pass-through or non-interactive areas into vibrant environments that celebrate life and promote sustainability.