Goeppertia Zebrina , 2020, fotografische scan, 130cm x 200 cm
The work "Goeppertia Zebrina" shows the roots of one of Van Marcke's house plants. The territory of this plant is delimited by the flower pot. The roots sense it and become - in a kind of forced mimesis - the negative of that form. All possible underground communication with the rest of the community is severely restricted. The plants become individuals.
In focusing on the roots Van Marcke refers to the origin and history of most of our houseplants. They were once taken and brought to the Western world and ended up on our households. They were ‘discovered’, renamed and in doing so erased from their identities and histories.
