Queer Botany
Illustration, Drawing
2021
Published in FUKT magazine # 22, the nature issue, for contemporary drawing
Dog rose
Yellow flag
Queer Botany is a tour with a series of outdoor interpretive displays that tell stories about plants from marginalised perspectives. The focus is on such site-specific wild plants as the dog rose, horse chestnut, willow and yellow flag. Participants can either learn about them on the project website, find the displays on their own, or be part of a guided tour at the Walthamstow Marshes, northeast London.
Rose hips and robin
The project emerges from the theoretical lens of queer ecology, which brings together queer theory and eco-criticism. A queer ecological perspective can help displace the dualities that are perceived to exist in culture and nature, preferring instead to insist on multiplicity and diversity. The aims are to share marginalised perspectives, support more diverse representations about the environment and outdoors and affirm connections between queerness and nature.
Horse chestnut flowers (candle)
Horse chestnut conckers (seeds)
Horse chestnut leaf
These illustrations were applied to the Queer Botany website, linen tapestries for interpretive display, and a risograph printed map on recycled paper.
View the project in its entirety here.
Grey willow leaves
Grey willow seed-producing catkins
Willow coppicing cycle
Queer Botany website
Map front
Map back
Map front detail
Map back detail
Horse Chestnut Tree Display Tapestry, 2021, Print on linen, Photo by Ryan Powell
Horse Chestnut Tree Display Rendering, 2021, ink on paper, collage, and digital illustration
Find out more about the project at QueerBotany.com and @QueerBotany on Instagram.