Strangling, smothering and suffocating – disturbing traits that make certain plants extremely resilient. But how do we capture this resilience artistically and magically?
In this post, Maggie shares her experiments for BioSignals working with methods to bind bindweed. Creatively encapsulating and preserving their deadly but extremely resilient essence.
She is working with Morning Glory (Ipomoea indica) and Moth Plant (Araujia sericifera) – both noxious bind weeds are located in or near her property.
Binding Magic
Bindweeds, such as Morning Glory and Mothweed, possess a potent magical essence that resonates with the concept of binding power.
These mystical plants are imbued with an inherent ability to harness and channel energy, making them invaluable tools in the practice of magic.
When utilised in rituals or spells, bindweeds serve as conduits for focusing intentions and containing mystical forces. Morning Glory, with its vibrant blooms, symbolizes power awakening, while Mothweed, with its delicate yet resilient nature, represents gentle yet toxic force.
By carefully manipulating these plants’ energies, practitioners can weave intricate spells of protection, containment, or empowerment, binding and shaping magical energies to their will.
The process involves invoking the essence of the bindweed and directing its energy towards the desired purpose, creating a metaphysical tether that binds and controls the forces at play. As such, bindweeds are guardians of magical balance, their essence entwined with the very fabric of mystical realms.
Jar Experiments
Using jars, Maggie is experimenting with different preserving liquids to see which is the most effective in preserving the plants over time. She worked with Glycerol, Sorbitol + water and Mineral Oil.
After a ritual of harvesting, she immersed the Morning Glory in Glycerol and Mineral Oil (Johnsons Baby Oil) and the Moth Weed in Sorbitol as an initial quick test to see which was the easiest to work with and had the best results aesthetically.
Over several days and potentially weeks, she will observe any changes and photograph these for documentation. Depending on the outcome, this process may or may not be used in installations for BioSignals to represent the capturing of a form of resilience.
The plants involved are some of the most resilient in NZ as they smother and kill all other plants in their proximity, either by scrambling along the ground and smothering seedlings or clambering over shrubs and trees and slowly suffocating them through lack of light.
Both plants are extremely prolific self-propagators either through seed pods (in the case of the Moth Plant) or through fragments of most parts of the plant in the case of Morning Glory. Both do not like frosts but Northland is sub-tropical, so both plants are an issue in our region.
Moth Plant and Morning Glory are registered on the Pest Plant Accord, and it is illegal to distribute or propagate them. Therefore, the plants in the jars will only be used in digital form, not moved from the site.
BioPlastics
A second set of experiments is underway involving bioplastics and magical rituals.
Maggie has a creative practice that uses bioplastics to capture the essence of plants. A recent exhibition entitled Things I Found Walking documented this process.
In these experiments, Maggie uses a Moth Plant, as Morning Glory has been extensively documented in previous experiments over the past year (see images left).
Using Agar (with Tea Tree Oil), Maggie encases Moth Plant flowers that have been dried in a dehumidifier. The resulting plastic is dried to finger touch and then dehydrated until crisp.
Results to be posted in the coming days…
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