
WHOOSH TO WISH, field research in North Acton Playing Fields, London, 2024
Use on leafy weeds April – September when they are small and actively growing. For best results, do not mow for 3 days before or after treatment. Avoid spraying in drought or frost. To avoid drift, do not spray in windy conditions. New lawns, treat in the spring at least 2 months after sowing or laying turf. The new lawn must be growing well. [...] Hold sprayer at arm's length with nozzle pointing towards the weeds and ensure spray covers all weed leaves. [...] KEEP OFF SKIN. WASH OFF SPLASHES IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT BREATHE SPRAY. WASH HANDS AND EXPOSED SKIN AFTER USE. [...] KEEP PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN AND PETS. KEEP AWAY FROM FOOD, DRINK AND ANIMAL FEEDING STUFFS.
- excerpt from the instructions of Weedol Gun, LAWN WEEDKILLER
- excerpt from the instructions of Weedol Gun, LAWN WEEDKILLER
How do we treat dandelions?
What makes people treat dandelions as inferior to lawns and other living beings?
How might the plants think of themselves and their place in this world?
In what ways can art expose and examine human perceptions of dandelions?
How can artistic intervention promote human attention to dandelions and create a space for discussing the way we engage with the life of the plant?
What makes people treat dandelions as inferior to lawns and other living beings?
How might the plants think of themselves and their place in this world?
In what ways can art expose and examine human perceptions of dandelions?
How can artistic intervention promote human attention to dandelions and create a space for discussing the way we engage with the life of the plant?
Exploring these questions in my project, WHOOSH TO WISH, with the support of the IfCAR grant, meant making journeys to various locations, including the United Kingdom, where dandelion herbicide is produced and commonly used by gardeners. I also journeyed to Switzerland, where the concept of "the dignity of plants" has been established by Constitutional Law, as well as France, where there is a fascination with producing perfumes using over 4000 species of plants, and South Korea, where a plant hospital has recently launched. Furthermore, I reached out to sensory experts, conducting experiments through their expertise, to investigate how we can approach and perceive dandelions.
Full text of the report: https://www.zhdk.ch/en/research/ifcar/ellie-kyungran-heo-whoosh-to-wish-2024-23641