The Earth has music for those who listen

Sep 19

Written By Claudia Cheng

CURATORIAL STATEMENT

The Earth has music for those who listen presents a world in which humanity and the Earth share a sacred bond of respect and reciprocity. Listening to the harmony between different species allows us to tap into the universal language that humans have long ignored in order to exploit the Earth for the advancement of our own kind. The looming threat of environmental disasters should serve as a reminder that the Earth has its stories and its symphonies – and we need to learn to listen. This exhibition reveals all living organisms, from plants to humans, as the same life, continually evolving from form to form, existence to existence.

Observing the symbiotic relationships between other species can reveal how much there is to learn from intelligences other than our own. Trees communicate through their interconnected root systems to provide weaker trees with nutrients so the whole forest can thrive together. At the same time, they sustain life for other species by purifying air and water. Buffalos share a similar bond with the grass they feed on: unlike humans, who routinely over consume, these animals know not to overgraze. A buffalo’s saliva contains enzymes that stimulate grass growth, and the herd respects the grass by not returning to the same patch for months. Grass gives life to buffalo and buffalo give life to grass in return. From flowering plants and flying insects, to rain showers and underground fungi networks, the mutual flourishing found in nature illustrates that every living form is interdependent.

The Earth has music for those who listen brings together six women artists spanning six decades – five contemporary and one as the historical counterpoint – to shine light on a theme that stands the test of time. At 93, Hedda Sterne reflected back on her artistic life: “At all times I have been moved…by the music of the way things are…the gestation of a work resembles the way a tree grows, from top toward bottom. The sun feeds the leaves that create chlorophyll, making sap flow down to nourish the roots. The nature of the developing images determines the quality of the lines, and the line reciprocates.” The natural rhythm of Sterne’s practice serves as a cornerstone for this exhibition. In the work of Anna Zemánková, one of the world’s leading figures of Art Brut, vivid patterns metamorphose into symphonic botanical forms. The syncopated rhythms contained in her drawings are influenced by the music to which she listened while creating work. The lyrical artworks that contemporary artists Cecilia Fiona, Cecilia Granara, Yulia Iosilzon, Gal Schindler, and Salomé Wu have created for the exhibition depict the intertwining of humans and plants, flesh with nature, to honour our reciprocal relationship with Mother Earth. Each artwork is a portal that may enlighten the viewer’s perception of our relationship with the natural world, reminding us to learn from its stories, listen to its harmonies, and celebrate our kinship with the Earth.