Somers Gallery is pleased to present the exhibition Cosmic Seed Basket by Cristina Ochoa as part of the 10th anniversary of Somers Gallery. This exhibition is part of the installation ‘Cosmic Seed Basket’ commissioned by the Royal Botanical Gardens, Wakehurst as part of the Millennium Seed Bank on its 25th anniversary. The exhibition at Somers Gallery presents the process and documentation of the installation at Wakehurst along with other related Cosmic Basket Seed pieces.
That was the task ordered by the elders, the taitas from up heavens and down earth, as grand father Berito Kuwaruwa told me when he asked them, they said this job has to be done. This is seed is part of the origin.
The piece Is a time vessel in the erythrina americana seed minimum shape, amplified. The colorin, Tzité, for the Mayans, Tzompantle In Nahuatl is connected to the origin of humanity and times, according to the sacred book Popol Vuh the first grandparents throw the seeds of Tzité along with the corn seeds to create humanity. The oracle practice of seed reading with the erythrina americana is still in use by the Mayan quiché and by the Mexica who carries 260 seeds with precious stones in the sacred bag, and throw the over the mayan calendar Tzolquin or Mexica tonalpahualli. The Mayan created the concept of zero depicted as a seed or a shell.
Mexican-Colombian artist Cristina Ochoa has created a giant replica of the Erythrina americana seed. Visitors are invited to sit inside the sculpture and reflect on the cultural and ecological significance of the seed.
Cristina said: “It’s been a process of one year and a half from the beginning of the idea… it’s based on a seed that I’ve been working with for a while.” With an estimated 45% of flowering plants at risk of extinction, the Kew scientists have collected seeds from plants across the world, in collaboration with over 275 partners in nearly 100 countries. The exhibition also includes a transformation of the MSB’s exterior, by Shiraaz Ali.
– Seedscapes at Wakehurst: Art, Science, and the Story of Seeds
Seedscapes is Wakehurst’s most ambitious arts programme yet, drawing on the expertise of Kew scientists and international artists to explore the powerful story of global seed conservation. From the towering trees of Coates Wood to vibrant meadows, the garden becomes a living gallery, with six artists that invite visitors to reflect on biodiversity, resilience, and our relationship with the natural world.Featuring new, bespoke commissioned artwork from both local and international artists that feature ceramic sculptures, woven materials, soundscapes and augmented reality art, Seedscapes will take visitors on a multi-sensory journey will highlight global seed conservation, biodiversity and resilience. The artists working with Wakehurst are Brighton-based Adam Ceramic, Kristina Pulejkova, Cristina Ochoa from Mexico, Shiraaz Ali, Australian James Tapscott, and Ed Carter.Kew Scientists have worked with the artists directly as consultants to bring the science to life.
The artist presents an oracle made with corn and colorín seeds, drawing from ancestral Mayan divination techniques and blending them with the types of oracles commonly found on the internet, which have a much higher frequency of use. In doing so, rather than simply showcasing archival material or creating a new piece, the artist merges and re-signifies two references that come from different cultural registers but have both been essential to her work.