Excerpt of essay in Sam’s Eden publication, 2021
‘Methods for Root Propagation’, for Sam’s Eden, 2021
Yarli Allison’s flower sculptures in Sam’s Eden publication, 2021
Sam’s Eden was published in August 2021, as a physical artifact of a virtual exhibition. The exhibition publication was a collaborative project between queer artists and writers. The project explored the occupation of queer spaces, both physical and virtual.Each artist was paired with a writer who responded to their artwork. The resulting text was included in the Sam’s Eden exhibition-publication.
‘Methods For Root Propagation’ was written with artist Yarli Allison. The text was written in response to their work‘In Virtual Return You (Can’t Dehaunt)’ and the ‘Flower Propagation’ series. Both works were exhibited during an online screening of Sam’s Eden.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions the Sam’s Eden project quickly moved online, the exhibition-publication is a tangible form of queer connection.‘In Virtual Return You (Can’t Dehaunt)’ is a 3 channel docufiction, moving image piece, which incorporates video and virtual reality. It explores the lives and narratives of 4 queer Hong Kongese (trans)migrants. Lead by an interview narrative of all participants, the work explores diasporic ideas of home, belonging and rootlessness.
The following text ‘Methods for Root Propagation’ expands on ideas of rootlessness and belonging. On the left is an interview between the artist Yarli and writer Michaela, interwoven with an interview between Michaela and her mother. The interview mirrors the interview format of ‘In Virtual Return You (Can’t Dehaunt)’ and considers intergenerational experiences of home, mixed-race identity and rootlessness. The column on the right animates the ‘Flower Propagation’ sculptures, considering their paths and journeys, through a similarly personal lens.