Recipient of the Journal of Public Space Prize.
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APOCALYPTIC THERAPEUTIC
A speculative journey into the future of our climate vulnerable ecologies through virtual reality and participation
Apocalyptic therapeutic is a laboratory of drawings, writing, virtual renders, and participatory experiences from across my Masters degree, that investigates the future of plants and landscapes in the face of our rapidly changing climate. It focuses specifically on the relationship between the therapeutic properties of our natural landscape in human health and considers how this relationship may have to change as the seasons become more unpredictable, our ecologies are placed under increased stress to adapt, and common garden plants begin to languish. It is likely that in the not-too-distant future we will have to seek the feeling of awe and wander of our natural landscapes through virtual reality or behind glass cabinets. This project invites people to closely inspect this fragility and flexibility before the world becomes apocalyptic.
A Glossary Of Lost Plants
Designed landscapes are only required to be commercially viable for 10-15 years, meaning that everything built today will have to be redesigned in 2030 for climate that is 2 degrees hotter and more seasonally unpredictable. A large body of scientific research has been dedicated to the effects of climate change on our pharmaceutical and agricultural ecologies, but we are yet to think more holistically about the future of our everyday garden plants and landscapes. We continue to create and design our cities as though the future is predictable.
Click on the image below to visit the Glossary Of Lost Plants
‘A Future Forest for Australia’ (in dialogue with Agnese Denes ‘A Forest For Australia’, Altona)
‘Reworlding’ is the act of reimagining the places and spaces we currently inhabit by exploring a multitude of possible intersecting futures. Nowhere is this better executed than the virtual world, in which layers and layers of information can be created and accessed at any point, in any location and any time. Below are three virtual landscapes situated in Western Melbourne. While Agnes Denes’ Land Art project maybe be closed off to the public, the below experiences are free and easily accessible via GoogleMaps.
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