Mediamatic organized a three-week festival around Japanese knotweed, a fast-growing plant known in Europe for its intrusive properties. What many do not know, however, is that this plant species has a host of positive properties. During the festival, we explored how to live in harmony with this controversial plant and what we can learn from it.
This summit brought together a unique blend of chefs, researchers, designers, and artists to explore the multifaceted world of the Japanese Knotweed plant. Through thought-provoking discussions and culinary creations, the summit aimed to delve deeper, transcending the plant's reputation as a nuisance, placing it center stage to celebrate its potential. We explored how our relationship with Knotweed could inform broader conversations about research, circularity in our food systems, and the evolving way we understand and define nature within urban environments.
In the Japanese Knotweed Festival we also presented a series of exhibitions dissecting the aesthetic qualities of the plant and displaying its value in society. Viewers immersed themselves in the world of knotweed through photographic storytelling, installations, and interactive exhibitions.
Designer Janneke de Lange envisions a future scenario in which she can grow her own tropical fruit trees in a mobile plant greenhouse, a 'Wardian case'. Because the Dutch climate is not suitable for fruit trees such as mangoes and papayas, we are dependent on expensive and environmentally harmful international trade. The Netherlands has a long history of bringing botanical specimens to Europe from all over the world and is still central in the trade of decorative plants. Janneke asks us what we can design to envision a future on a smaller personal scale.Enlarge
Irish artist and researcher Dr. Siobhan McGibbon builds a fictional world to discover an alternative kinship with non-humans. In this fictive world, ‘Xenophon’, the beings (Xenothorpians) have the ability to mutate by merging with other species. In her pieces she becomes Xenothorpian by merging with with Japanese Knotweed and other beings that are put into conflict with each other by humans (goats and insects among others). Enlarge
Over the years, contractors have come up with many creative and outlandish ways of rooting out Japanese knotweed. As the resilient plant is well established in Europe, it may already be too late to completely exterminate it. Its sweet and green rhubarb scent still prevails over the sad scent of its extermination.
Mediamatic's Aromalab developed different smells of Japanese knotweed and mimicked the smells of the ways it is commonly exterminated. The exhibition of the smells could be visited during the Japanese Kntoweed Festival.
We want to be able to identify Japanese Knotweed (sometimes to eradicate it), but for many people, it's still difficult to recognize. Visually, it's often mistaken for native species like bindweed and sorrel. However, each plant also develops a unique smell. Can you identify knotweed by its scent?
On the brick wall in the restaurant of Mediamatic ETEN, we put an adaptation of Alaa Abu Asad’s ongoing project 'The Dog Chased Its Tail To Bite It Off'. Struck by the intensity of the language used around the plant, Abu Asad has spent five years compiling a list of nearly 400 words that are used to refer to the Japanese knotweed. The violent nature of the terms bears resemblance to the insulting language often directed toward human migrants.
All over the world, monsters are used to scare children. But they are the same fairy tales that show that what we find monstrous in our society is often rather misunderstood. "Monsters Under the Bed" is a personal quest that celebrates all that is different and misunderstood. Clemens Tomlow asks us to reflect on what we find scary or dangerous and to open ourselves to the idea that what we find scary may not be so well understood. Enlarge
When filmmakerEricaMondewas diagnosed with endometriosis, the growth of tissue similar to theuterine lining outside the uterus, she was told by doctors that there was not much they could do for her. In her film, she speaks about this experience, but also about how she learned that Japanese Knotweed is a remedy for the condition. This invasive plant is attacked with much greater urgency than many medical problems in female bodies. In her film, she takes you through her thoughts on body, biology, care, and control, and openly questions what we see as 'natural'. Enlarge
In Knots, Weeds & Roots, we celebrated the invasive exotic in all its tastes, smells, and characteristics. Through 7 courses and delicious food, you learned about migration, adaptation, coexistence, and encounters of people and plants. Inspired by their individual experiences with migration, the artist-chefs used plants that had a similar history to their own.
From earthy taste of reminiscence roots to the ephemeral sweetness of flowers, artists Uno Fujisawa, Alaa Abu Asad and Aslı Hatipoğlu used the lifecycle of the Japanese Knotweed as a starting point to take you on a culinary journey through personal stories about migration and adaptation.
In collaboration with various artists, we organized several workshops, all focusing on different aspects of the Japanese Knotweed. Through these workshops, participants were able to learn how to embrace the plant rather than fear it.
In these workshops Lucie Havel guided the participants step-by-step on how to dye wool using the leaves, stems and roots of Japanese Knotweed. The wool is from Dutch sheep who actually eat Japanese Knotweed. Several techniques developed by Lucie will be applied to create a colour palette of five to ten colours during the workshop.
Guided by Noa Jansma, we explored the question: How can we eat with acknowledgment of the stories connected to the food? We baked pies as a way of celebrating the Japanese (k)not-weed. By baking, we researched the heritage of our ingredients and, therefore, our culture. We questioned what defines an "invasive" species and what makes a species "natural" to a place. Enlarge
On the stem and leaves of the Japanese Knotweed lives a flea that saw the world not as we do, but in strong UV colors. Together with artist Siobhan McGibbon, you made a representation of this world out of paint and clay, which was on display in Mediamatic's exhibition.
Designer Janneke de Lange envisioned a future scenario in which she could grow her own tropical fruit trees in a mobile plant greenhouse, a 'Wardian case'. During the Japanese Knotweed Season, you joined us to craft your own unique piece, learning how to cut glass and build a small glass dome design by Janneke specially for this workshop. Enlarge
This exciting workshop series combined the art of lacto-fermentation with the challenge of utilizing 'invasive' species, transforming a commonly found plant into a tasty and unique culinary experience. We fermented Japanese Knotweed, crafted Japanese Knotweed Ravioli, and made Japanese Knotweed Syrup.
A collection of silver jewelry that invites the wearer to move meditatively. The rhythmic movements bring you closer to your inner world, make you more aware of your body and allow you to process stimuli better. Weimin Zhu's designs are focused on the often intimate relationship between objects, our daily lives and our bodies, specifically our inner self.
Mater is a research project that platforms artists and writers who shift perspectives on how we engage with the world of materials. In 2024, Mater commissioned four new pieces of writing by Amsterdam-based artists and curators on the occasion of this exhibition at Mediamatic. It contained works by Rajyashri Goody, Elena Khurtova, Nazif Lopulissa, Vibeke Mascini, Hannah Rowan, Thebe Magugu, and newly commissioned writing by Amanda Pinatih, Musoke Nalwoga, Vibeke Mascini, and Rajyashri Goody. Over two events, these texts were read by the authors followed by an audience discussion.
"In Order to Smile in a Tin Box" included various elements that captured the essence of nightlife. Complementing these images, the exhibition also incorporated the sense of smell into the experience. The scent made in our Aroma Lab was reminiscent of the smell of sweat, the same smell lingering in the nightclub adjacent area that Jesse Glazzard created by imitating the scent of his own sweat, giving a more human element to the overall experience.
With her sculptures of speculative species, Silke Riis explores the idea that evolution is driven and shaped by climate change. Combining beauty and horror in the aesthetics of each piece, she reflects her own feelings about the uncertain future. This exhibition in our toilets will be on show until the end of 2024. Enlarge
How can we humans be better actors in the world we dwell in? The Mycelium-Waste-Pigeon-Towers are our teachers; Observe, make, reflect on the ever-changing towers who host many beings. This will take time, and we shall take our time; be part of a community that crosses generations, discipline and species. We builded the towers together with artist and researcher on human ecology Arne Hendriks. He believes we should be more generous towards ourselves in allowing radical new ideas and practices to re-define our relationship with the planet.
This exhibition investigated the unique cultural phenomenon in Penghu, Taiwan: the Bîng KunToh (Underworld-Army Table), a ritual held during Ghost Month to honor foreign spirits. Szu-Han Lin, together with 7 Taiwanese and Dutch artists, explored the profound influence of foreign spirits on local rituals, where intangible culture took on visible, tangible forms to unveil a hidden history.
Mediamatic and Buurtwerkplaats Noorderhof presented ‘Mycelium Disco’, a special edition of the program Collectively Creative. Collectively Creative is a program by artist Claire van der Mee and Buurtwerkplaats Noorderhof that explores collectivity as a response to the challenges faced by contemporary creative makers. In this third edition the focus is on the subject of community building. Artist and researcher, Shanna de Ruiter, will give a presentation on Mycorrhiza fungi, in which she explores how these underground fungal networks can guide us in living symbiotically with each other and with other organisms.
EAT: A Concert-Ritual-Breakfast by Tomoko Mukaiyama
Artist and pianist Tomoko Mukaiyama invited you to disrupt your morning ritual and try a new approach to spending time where every minute and even second counted. In a series of fourteen concert-breakfast-rituals at Mediamatic, Tomoko performed a seven-course piano composition paired with unique flavors.
We celebrated the beginning of summer in a holistic VR experience with live sound design by Pixel Paradise. It was the longest day of the year, an astronomical phenomenon that has held great significance since the dawn of humanity. The day when Stonehenge and summer love carried the same meaning, where Shakespeare wrote a play about it and Holland and Barrett offered a two-for-one sale.
Our A/artist events on neurodiversity in the arts are held every third Monday of the month. We organise an evening with presentations by two artists, a good conversation and something to eat. These events are hosted by the A/artist program team, a project at Mediamatic which platforms artists and designers who identify as/with the ASD or ADD spectrums. The program started in 2021, focusing on hosting regular roundtable sessions and publishing articles generated through these discussions.
The monthly Living Tower Talk, curated in collaboration with pigeon tower maker Arne Hendriks, is a collaborative learning process. It takes us on a journey of discovery where the destination is not predetermined and the course emerges during the conversations.
Asia Hussain and Aynouk Tan presented The Queer Superdiversity Podcast: A podcast in which they discussed queer perspectives and themes that were relatively underrepresented. Guests were mainly queer and trans people with a migration background.
This edition was about the relationship between queerness and neurodiversity. What exactly did we mean by neurodiversity and how did it relate to being queer? Who did or did not identify as neurodiverse and why?
Every month olfactory artist Frank Bloem curates a program where experts, artists, designers and scientists shift our perspectives on what we eat, drink, touch, inhale, secrete and smell. These so called "lower senses" are not only placed lower in our body but also were considered through history as lesser, more banal and not sophisticated. We think differently. Starting from a simple theme with a thought provoking question, we go on a journey and inviting people from different disciplines to discover the world that lies behind everyday phenomena.
The Dutch landscape is 70% grassland, yet many of these grass varieties were inedible for humans. It enfolds an interesting illustration of how humans use different species to get access to the nutrients. We discussed grass in its various forms; from its presence in the (for humans) inedible western lawns and pastures, to the grass family's role as the world's most widely consumed staple crops, such as wheat, corn, and rice. We also included fermentation experiments to rethink our gastronomic interaction and widen the limits of the edible.
Program hosted by: Kees Foekema Speakers: Lelani Lewis, Sveske Ourø, Michiel Korthals, Tessa van der Geer // Evening created with: The Gramounce
Grain of Salt is a project focusing on the relationship between greenery and water. To care for the green opulence of the Dijksgracht, we use over a quarter of a million liters of water per year. To save precious drinking water, we now irrigate our plants directly with the brackish water from the Oosterdok. Not all plants can withstand that, so we will welcome more and more salt-tolerant plants into our Biotope. This project will thus not only result in practical water savings, but also puts the problem of increasing salinization in the Netherlands on the agenda, and will make visible what a brackish landscape can look like.
Inspired by the speculative sea cucumbers in "Some breathe through their butts," Silke Riis gave a workshop on how to cast latex in the shape of your own imaginary cucumber species.
Medieval abbessHildegardvon Bingen invited joy and happiness into daily routine to ward off melancholy, wrath and empty-headedness. Wine featured strongly in Hildegard's remedies due to its availability at the time and its medicinal properties as a tonic. This workshop by Tamara Last explores Hildegardian joy through wine.
We reclaimed lost knowledge about medicinal herbs! This workshop focused on foraging for plants with potential benefits for female reproductive health. In collaboration with artist Fedora Boonaert, you learned how to forage wild herbs surrounding Mediamatic Biotoop. Afterwards, you joined designer Clemens Tomlow and created cyanotype designs and brought home an amazing costume tote bag.
At the Textile Repair Cafe, we helped participants breathe new life into their favorite clothes, bags, and textiles. Whether it was a hole, rip, missing button, or anything else in need of some love and attention, designer Clemens Tomlow was happy to guide the, through the repair process. Enlarge
The Aroma Lab is set up for designers who want to experiment with scent. We have over 250 fragrances in our public library. After two hours, participants leave with a 10 ml bottle of their own mixed scent, a recipe, and a basic understanding of scent compositions.
Meet-a-Maker is a 30-minute session to have a one-on-one talk with artists currently working at Mediamatic. We are lucky to be inspired by the many artists who work and stay with us for exhibitions, residencies and workshops. Throughout the year many visitors sat down with the artists to talk about their practise.
We are proud of our collaborations in 2024. Thanks to, among others Oedipus Brewing, iAmsterdam, Humanistisch Verbond, Hard//hoofd, Boom Uitgevers, Marineterrein, Waterbear, Buurtwerkplaats Noorderhof, Joost van Bellen (DJ Huppeldepup), The Offline Club, The Gramounce, Queer 365, Queer is not a Manifesto, Stitching Prisma Groep, Studio Sensoverse, Gemeente Amsterdam, Expeditie Oosterdok, en Waternet for the great cooperation! staff
