Throughout history, plants have shaped cultural
narratives, functioning as projection surfaces for ideas of power, belonging, nature and civilisation, and becoming symbols
of resistance, home, exile, knowledge, remembrance and oblivion. In art and literature, for example, they have been used as
allegories of life and transience, while in colonial contexts they have become tools of exploitation and control. Botanical
knowledge production was closely linked to imperial interests, contributing to the consolidation of Eurocentric systems of
knowledge. Current debates demonstrate the growing importance of plants in political struggles, ecological movements and postcolonial
discourse. However, these meanings are not fixed but are subject to constant re-evaluation depending on the political, social
or economic climate. This conference focuses on the multifaceted meanings of plants, placing particular emphasis on viewing
them as active elements in historical and contemporary negotiation processes.
Organized by
Anita Hosseini (Department
of Art History) and
Isabel Kranz (Department of Cultural Studies) moderated together with
Lisa
Marie Heuschober,
Maria Inês Lopes Vales &
Lorenzo ZerbiniPlease find the detailed programme and the abstracts on the
website
of the Department of Art History.
