For the last few years Lichen Kelp has been curating programs that return art to some of its fundamental sources of inspiration and materiality - soil, plants and the ocean. These environmentally focused events, community engagements, collaborations and residencies include MULCH, the Seaweed Appreciation Society international (SASi), University of Melbourne Herbarium residency, BioMutualism, School of Untourism and FLOAT residencies. More details can be found in the following links…
Pictured: cephaloPOD19; FSM x La artist camp.
In 2018, Lichen Kelp organised an artist road trip to witness the mating displays of the Giant Cuttlefish in Whyalla, South Australia as part of Forum of Sensory Motion’s series of travelling residencies.
In 2019 she teamed with Liquid Architecture curator Danni Zuvela to return with another group of artists. This trip was funded by Australia Council for the Arts.
Lichen returned for her third trip a month later, in July 2019, .
MULCH: System Garden Performance Picnic
Performance chemist and curator Lichen Kelp brought together an eclectic range of artists for an afternoon of live art and sonic performance in the University of Melbourne System Garden – an oasis in the heart of the Parkville campus.
David Haines, Loren Kronemyer (Pony Express), Lisa Lerkenfeldt, Tim Coster, Honeyfingers (Nic Dowse), Kelp D and Benjamin Hancock presented a series of site-specific works in conversation with the plants and local ecologies of the Garden. Chemical reactions, improvised movement, experimental electronics, beekeeping, poetry and perfumery all combined in a dynamic program of esoteric and scientific investigation.
The System Garden Picnic was presented by Forum of Sensory Motion as part of The Potter’s 2019 Inside Out program, generously supported by Peter Jopling AM QC, Andy Zhang and Calvin Huang.
Image; David Haines. Wollemi Kirlians (detail) courtesy of the artist and Sarah Cottier Gallery
more information here: forumofsensorymotion.com
SASi: Seaweed Appreciation Society international
In 2019 Lichen established the Seaweed Appreciation Society international as an experimental mobile platform for the artistic research of marine algae. SASi are dedicated to group learning through bringing together people from a range of disciplines including marine biologists, artists, chefs, architects, writers and designers to explore, study, taste and forage a vast array of seaweeds.
SASi are focused on gathering and sharing knowledge, research and experience. The role and potential of seaweed as a vital asset for rehabilitating oceans is a key focus of SASi’s research and we trace the cultural history of human-seaweed relations to situate our knowledge and practice. As often as possible we take the discussions outside, leading seaside forages, research roadtrips and engaging conversations around the campfire. Through our various SASi events we seek to present a heightened experience of seaweed through our taste-buds, down microscope lenses, wading through intertidal zones, immersed in kelp baths, reading seaweed stories and imbibing briny beers and pig face gins from kelp based cups. We are excited to collaborate with chefs, designers, architects, brewers, distillers, artists and scientists to dream up new concoctions for a sustainable seaweed future.
Pictured: participants at SASI’s Jaffle Symposium at Testing Grounds
photo by Marina Lamari