Sixto-Juan Zavala - A Dash of Lavender 2023

Rendering of LGBTQ+ Flags display at Chelsea Physic Garden

For LGBTQ+ History Month 2023, Chelsea Physic Garden collaborated with Queer Botany to look at plants, fungi and lichen through a queer lens. Queer Botany is a project initiated by Sixto-Juan Zavala that studies connections between queerness and plants through events, storytelling, and design. Since the 1400s and the expansion of western colonial powers, nature and plants have been examined through a predominantly heteronormative, European, and male point of view. The project aims to share marginalised perspectives and support more diverse representations in the environment and outdoors. We want queer and marginalised stories from culture and nature to inform our understanding of the world.

Historically, the LGBTQ+ community has often been referred to as ‘unnatural’, however, the ‘natural’ world has many characteristics that can be seen as queer. One example is the variety of plants and their sexual diversity. There is also a cultural link between queerness and the symbolism of flowering plants, which can be found in terms like ‘pansy’, or ‘a streak’ or ‘dash' of lavender.

3-colour offset printed map on recycled paper

It was important to use plant-based biodegradable materials throughout the exhibition. This included recycled paper, natural linen, and sustainably sourced birch plywood. The majority of the large displays utilised the existing trellises that were no longer supporting plants. Several trellises were available since the installation took place during the winter when many plants were dormant. This cut down the need for building new structures.

Introductory text, Photo by Fikayo Adebajo

Time Rhizome banner, Photo by Fikayo Adebajo

February is usually a quiet time for the Garden, however, with A Dash of Lavender there was a new exhibition and series of programming that welcomed an increased number of visitors. Many of the visitors were new to the Garden. There was an increase in people visiting of 100% and an increase in young people visiting by 50%.