Łukasz Prus-Niewiadomski, Gold plantation

The exhibition by Łukasz Prus-Niewiadomski is an artistic project inspired by Australian scientific research on eucalyptus trees growing above gold deposits. It was found that these plants absorb water with metal particles from the depths of the earth. Because gold can be toxic, eucalyptus transports it through branches to the leaves that it throws to the ground. Gold particles in the leaves are invisible to the naked eye, but can be localized by researchers with use of specialized equipment, which can become a new method of looking for deposits of this metal.

The exhibition will be presented at the Palm House of the Botanical Garden in Łódź, not only because of the subject of exotic plants. The Palm House is located in the Źródliska Park, associated with the well-known Lodz industrialist Karol Scheibler. The fact that the entrepreneur maintained a green enclave in an industrial city was a sign of prestige and financial freedom. The location of the exhibition will therefore refer to two key motifs of the project: nature represented by eucalyptus and wealth symbolized by gold. The project consists of two parts. The first is an exhibition presenting photographs referring to the aesthetics of botanical documentation. For each work after printing, gold flakes will be applied, which will make it unique. The photographs will be accompanied by living eucalyptus containing particles of gold in its leaves. Additionally, the exhibition will include tips that will help the audience to reach the second part of the presentation – find a “treasure” placed in the urban space.

Łukasz Prus-Niewiadomski (born in 1985 in Oran, Algieria) – Polish intermedia artist. In his art he examines the possibilities of the human body and the influence of the natural and cultural environment on our behavior. He creates cycles of photographs, performances, video-installations. He has graduated from National Film School in Łódź (2012), where he is currently a PhD student. He lives and works in Warsaw. His works were showed, among others, on 15th Media Art Biennale WRO „Pioneering Values” in Wrocław, KinoLab at the Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle in Warsaw, in Bunkier Sztuki Gallery in Krakow, Opole Contemporary Art Gallery, Wozownia Gallery in Toruń, Imaginarium Gallery in Łódź, Studio Gallery in Warsaw, Brotfabrik in Berlin, The Performance Studio in London. Works in collections: In Situ Contemporary Art Foundation (Warsaw), Exchange Gallery (Łódź) and Collection of Contemporary Art Collegium Polonicum (Słubice).